JP3621806B2 - Breathing nose mask - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a respiratory nasal mask. More specifically, the present invention relates to a respiratory nasal mask used for CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy suitable for the treatment of sleep apnea syndrome, NIPPV (Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation) therapy suitable for ventilation failure, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to treat patients with sleep apnea syndrome, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), a nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy, is performed, and a positive pressure of about 4 to 20 cmH ₂ O is applied to the nostril of the user during sleep. A respiratory assistance device (hereinafter also referred to as “CPAP device”) to which air is supplied is employed.
[0003]
Originally, when this apparatus is used, various mask means have been developed in order to continuously apply a positive pressure to the nostril.
For example, US Pat. No. 5,243,971 discloses a mask that fits a nose mask for a CPAP device by pressing a mask having a thin film swelled by a positive pressure against the nose during use. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-10311 discloses a mask means for treating sleep apnea syndrome, in order to prevent patient discomfort and to reduce weight, the side of the nose adjacent to the nostril, the tip, the upper lip A mask covering between the two is disclosed.
[0004]
Many of the existing off-the-shelf nasal masks do not reflect the shape of the user's nose, and when a positive pressure gas is supplied when worn, gas from the interface between the nasal mask and the face Leakage is likely to occur. In particular, there are many leaks from around the user's nose wings, and the amount of leakage increases when the head is moved. Even in nasal masks using thin films that can be easily deformed, the shape does not reflect the shape of the nose, so the thin film part is forced to deform when worn, and wrinkles occur somewhere on the thin film. . Even if positive pressure gas is supplied into the nasal mask, wrinkles generated in the thin film are not easily eliminated, and gas leakage always occurs through the wrinkles.
[0005]
In addition, the nasal mask made of such a thin film is easily deformed when a load is applied, so that the wearing state collapses only by the user moving his / her head and lacks stability. Even in the mask means described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-10311, it cannot be said that the mask stability is sufficient when the head is moved because of its small shape.
[0006]
Gas leakage from the interface between the nasal mask and the face causes discomfort to the user's face, and the therapeutic effect decreases when the amount of leakage increases. In addition, when gas leaks around the nose root (near the right and left eyes of the nose), the user's eyes are stimulated. It is possible to prevent gas leakage from the interface between the nasal mask and the face by pressing the nasal mask strongly against the face, but the user's nasal mask wearing site will be damaged and cannot be used for a long time. .
[0007]
Further, a nasal mask made of a relatively strong material so that the nasal mask is stable on the face damages the user's skin at the contact portion between the nasal mask and the face when worn.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention seeks to provide an improved respiratory nasal mask that can supply positive pressure gas for breathing through the patient's nose to patients in need of positive pressure ventilation therapy (CPAP, NIPPV, etc.). .
[0009]
Considering the therapeutic effects of patients who are nasal mask users, nasal masks that do not cause pain or discomfort to the users and do not hurt the user's skin, or gas from the interface between the nasal mask and the face There is a need for a nasal mask that minimizes leakage and that can be applied to any movement of a user's sleep and that can maintain stability on the user's face. Furthermore, the nasal mask is preferably not a personal custom made but a nasal mask that can be applied to most users in several sizes.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such a problem, the present inventor has intensively studied, and as a result, has a thin film three-dimensionally formed in a user's general nose shape, and a nasal mask is provided on the opposite side of the thin film as viewed from the user side. It has been found that a respiratory nasal mask characterized by having a mask holding elastic body attached so as to be stable on a user's face can solve such a problem.
[0011]
That is, the present invention has a thin film capable of covering at least the periphery of the user's nose in a respiratory nasal mask for contacting the user's face and supplying positive pressure gas for respiration to the user's nose. In addition, the thin film has a hole through which positive pressure gas for breathing can be sent to the user's nostril, and the central part of the thin film has a concave shape when viewed from the user side. A mask is provided.
[0012]
Furthermore, the invention of the present application has a mask holding elastic body on the side wall portion of the respiratory nasal mask, on the opposite side of the user's face of the thin film, so that it can be easily caught inside when the face is pressed when wearing the nasal mask. The respiratory nasal mask, which is characterized in that the concave shape of the thin film is three-dimensionally shaped into a general nasal shape of the user, and swells and deforms when supplied with positive pressure gas, and is a wearable part of the user The respiratory nasal mask is characterized by self-adapting to the shape of the periphery of the nose and closely contacting at the site.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The respiratory nose mask of the present invention has a concave shape reflecting the nose shape as viewed from the user side, and the contour of the concave shape seen from the user side is an isosceles with rounded corners. It is a triangle. As a method for forming the concave shape of the thin film, for example, a representative one is first selected from the users, and the nose shape of the person is taken with plaster or the like. The removed nose mold has a concave shape, but a thin film concave shape may be formed based on the nose mold. Of course, several representatives having a nose shape may be selected to create a plurality of sizes, or a person other than the user may be selected as the nose type representative. Further, even if the actual human nose is not used, if there is any data related to the nose, a thin film may be formed based on the data. The region in the vicinity of the base of the isosceles triangle with rounded corners covers at least the maximum width of the user's nose width, and in the direction corresponding to the height of the isosceles triangle, at least the left and right sides of the user Cover the area from the top of the nose at the same height as the lowermost eye to the bottom of the nose.
[0014]
Such a thin film is made of a material that easily stretches, such as thin silicon rubber, and is formed with a film thickness of about 0.1 to 0.3 mm. In addition, a hole having an appropriate position and size is formed in the thin film so that positive pressure gas for breathing can be sent to the user's nostril.
[0015]
By forming this concave-shaped thin film part into a general human nose shape, the thin film is not forced to deform when worn, and the mask can be worn with minimal wrinkles when worn. Can be suppressed. Even in a situation where the shape of the thin film and the shape of the user's nose do not completely match, positive pressure gas is supplied into the nasal mask by making the material forming the thin film a stretchable material such as silicone rubber. And the thin film part can adapt itself to the nose shape of a user's wearing part. Therefore, when the positive pressure gas is supplied, the thin film portion can almost completely seal the interface between the nasal mask and the face, and gas leakage can be minimized.
[0016]
In addition, when the face is placed on the opposite side of the concave thin film as viewed from the user and the face is pressed, the nasal mask can be kept stable on the user's face and the face will be caught inside the nose mask. A mask holding elastic body having an easy shape is attached by adhesion or integrally formed with a concave thin film. The elastic body for mask holding is connected to the concave-shaped thin film at the terminal portion opposite to the face of the nasal mask or the side wall portion of the nasal mask.
[0017]
The mask-holding elastic body is a film that is thicker than the concave thin film, and is formed of, for example, an elastic material such as silicon rubber. However, it is continuously changed such as about 5 mm at the terminal portion opposite to the face. The tip of the mask-holding elastic body that corresponds to the user's face is lightly curled inward so that it can contact the user's face at least near the left and right outer sides of the user's nose through a concave thin film. Make a shape. In other words, because the head movement during sleep is mostly a swinging motion in the left-right direction, supporting the nasal mask near the left and right outer sides of the user's nose is very effective in maintaining the stability of the nasal mask. It is valid. Due to the presence of the mask holding elastic body, the amount of deformation of the nasal mask can be minimized even if the user's head moves. Gas leakage at the interface with the face can be prevented.
[0018]
The nasal mask according to the present invention does not need to be pressed strongly against the user's face due to the feature of the concave thin film that prevents gas leakage at the interface between the nasal mask and the face. Just apply it lightly. Therefore, the mask holding elastic body does not cause pain or damage to the user's face.
[0019]
【Example】
FIG. 1 shows an example of use of a respiratory nasal mask 1. Moreover, FIG. 2 has shown the wearing part 13 of the nose mask 1 when the user 6 is seen from the front.
[0020]
The respiratory nasal mask 1 according to the present invention is used by being connected to a positive pressure gas supply device 4 via a mask shell 2 and a positive pressure gas supply tube 3. The mask shell is connected between the tube connected to the respiratory assistance device and the nasal mask, and holds the outer shape of the nasal mask that is easily deformed. By attaching several straps 5 that can be adjusted in length to the mask shell 2, the nasal mask 1 can be fixed to the nasal mask wearing site of the user 6. The mask shell 2 is provided with an exhalation discharge hole 7. In addition, an arm 8 extending in the forehead direction of the user 6 from the upper part of the mask shell 2 is connected, and a height-adjustable forehead pad 9 made of a flexible material that can be in close contact with the forehead of the user 6 at its tip. By attaching, the stability of the nasal mask 1 on the face of the user 6 is further increased.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred example of the respiratory nose mask 1 according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic external view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view thereof. When viewed from the user 6 side, the thin film 10 whose center portion is a concave shape reflecting a general user's nose shape is bonded to the mask holding elastic body 11 in the vicinity of the connection portion with the mask shell 2. . The thin film 10 and the mask holding elastic body 11 are formed from silicon rubber. The thin film 10 has a thickness of 0.2 mm, and the thickness of the mask holding elastic body 11 is continuously changed so that the face side is 0.6 mm and the opposite side is 4 mm. Moreover, the thin film 10 has a hole 12 having an appropriate position and size so that a breathing gas can be sent to the nostril of the user 6. The hole 12 may be cut out in accordance with the shape of the user 6 around the nostril. That is, by making the hole 12 the minimum necessary size, it becomes possible to increase the seal area formed by the thin film 10 at the interface between the nasal mask 1 and the face of the user 6, and gas leakage occurs. Can be further prevented.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
By applying the respiratory nasal mask according to the present invention, it is easy to create a respiratory nasal mask. In other words, the size of the hole should be large enough to cover not only around the user's nose but also around the mouth so that breathing gas can be sent to both the nose and mouth. Good.
[0023]
In the nasal respiratory mask according to the present invention, the contact surface with the user is a concave shape reflecting the nasal shape of the user, so that the thin film on the nasal mask surface is not forced to be deformed, and the conventional nasal mask is used. Compared with the nasal mask, almost no wrinkles occur on the thin film. Further, since this thin film can be inflated like a balloon by supplying positive pressure gas, it is possible to completely seal the user's wearing part of the nasal mask. Furthermore, due to the presence of the mask holding elastic body, the amount of deformation of the nasal mask can be minimized even if the user's head moves. Therefore, the nasal mask according to the present invention can cope with any movement of the user during sleep, and it is not necessary for the user to use the nasal mask and the face by pressing it so hard that the user feels pain or discomfort. Can prevent gas leakage at the interface. That is, it is possible to maximize the therapeutic effect of the user's positive pressure ventilation assist therapy (CPAP, NIPPV, etc.).
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of use of a respiratory nasal mask.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a wearing part of a respiratory nasal mask.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a respiratory nasal mask.
FIG. 4 is a schematic external view of a respiratory nasal mask.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective sectional view of a respiratory nasal mask.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. 1. Breathing nose mask 2. Mask shell 3. Positive pressure gas supply tube 4. Positive pressure gas supply device Strap 6 User 7 7. Exhalation discharge hole Arm 9. Forehead pad 10. Thin film 11. 11. Mask holding elastic body Gas supply hole 13. Respiratory nasal mask wearing part

Claims (2)

A respiratory nasal mask for contacting a user's face and supplying positive pressure gas for breathing to the user's nose, comprising a thin film capable of covering at least the periphery of the user's nose. has a bore which can send a positive pressure gas for respiration to the nostrils of the user, as viewed from the user side, the central portion of the thin film Ri concave der, and is concave of the thin film, the user It is three-dimensionally shaped into a nose shape, and when positive pressure gas is supplied, it swells and deforms, has a structure that self-adapts to the shape around the nose that is the user's wearing part, and adheres at that part, , the side wall portion of the nasal respiratory mask, on the opposite side of the user's face of the thin film, characterized Rukoto to have a mask holding resilient body easily shaped entrainment inwardly pressed against the face when nasal mask worn Nose mask for breathing. The respiratory nasal mask according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic body for holding the mask can contact the face of the user through the thin film at least in the vicinity of the left and right outer sides of the user's nose.

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