Hybrid textured/polished respiratory mask seal and respiratory mask using same
View Patent ↗A seal for a respiratory mask that includes a first end portion adapted to be coupled to a mask shell, a second end portion for sealing engagement with a face of a patient, and a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion. At least a portion of the second end portion includes a textured area having a first rms surface roughness that is greater than a second rms surface roughness of a non-textured area of the seal. The area of increased surface roughness provides the patient contacting portion of the seal with a silky feeling to maximize patient comfort and the effectiveness of the seal without impairing the sealing ability.
1. A respiratory mask facial seal comprising:
a first end portion adapted to be coupled to a mask shell;
a second end portion for sealing engagement with a face of a patient; and
a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein at least a portion of the second end portion includes a textured area having a first rms surface roughness that is greater than 700 microinches, and wherein the seal includes a non-textured area having a second rms surface roughness of less than 690 microinches.
2. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the first rms surface roughness is in a range of 750-1,500 microinches.
3. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the second rms surface roughness is in a range of 1-100 microinches.
4. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the textured area is disposed over an entire patient-contacting surface at the second end portion of the seal.
5. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the textured area is disposed on a first flap operatively connected to the side wall, and further comprising a second flap underlying the first flap.
6. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion is generally triangular-shaped and sized and configured so as to encompass and airway of a patient responsive to the seal being positioned on such a patient, wherein the textured area is provided around an entire perimeter of the patient contacting surface of the second end portion of the seal.
7. A respiratory mask facial seal comprising:
a first end portion adapted to be coupled to a mask shell;
a second end portion for sealing engagement with a face of a patient,
wherein at least a first portion of the second end portion includes a first rms surface roughness greater than 700 microinches; and
a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein (a) at least a second portion of the second end portion or (b) a first portion of the sidewall includes a second rms surface roughness less than 700 microinches.
8. The seal of claim 7 , wherein the first rms surface roughness is in a range of 700-1,500 microinches.
9. A respiratory mask comprising:
(a) a shell having an first opening adapted to be coupled to a patient circuit and a second opening; and
(b) a seal comprising:
(1) a first end portion coupled to the shell,
(2) a second end portion for sealing engagement with a face of a patient, and
(3) a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein at least a portion of the second end portion includes a textured area having a first rms surface roughness that is greater than 700 microinches, and wherein the seal includes a non-textured area having a second rms surface roughness of less than 690 microinches.
10. The mask of claim 9 , wherein the first rms surface roughness is in a range of 750-1,500 microinches.
11. The mask of claim 9 , wherein the second rms surface roughness is in a range of 1-100 microinches.
12. The mask of claim 9 , wherein the textured area is disposed over an entire patient-contacting surface at the second end portion of the seal.
13. The mask of claim 9 , wherein the second end portion is generally triangular-shaped and is sized and configured so as to encompass and airway of a patient responsive to the seal being positioned on such a patient, wherein the textured area is provided around an entire perimeter of the patient contacting surface of the second end portion of the seal.
14. The mask of claim 9 , further comprising:
a forehead support operatively coupled to the shell; and
a patient contacting forehead pad operatively coupled to the shell, wherein at least a portion of the forehead pad includes a second textured area having a third rms surface roughness that is also greater than the second rms surface roughness.
15. The mask of claim 14 , wherein the third rms surface roughness is greater than 700 microinches.
16. The mask of claim 14 , wherein the third rms surface roughness is substantially the same as the first surface roughness.
17. A respiratory mask comprising:
(a) a shell having a first opening adapted to be coupled to a patient circuit and a second opening; and
(b) a seal comprising:
(1) a first end portion coupled to the shell;
(2) a second end portion for sealing engagement with a face of a patient, wherein at least a first portion of the second end portion includes a first rms surface roughness greater than 700 microinches; and
(3) a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein (i) at least a second portion of the second end portion or (ii) a first portion of the sidewall includes a second rms surface roughness less than 700 microinches.
18. The mask of claim 17 , wherein the first rms surface roughness is in a range of 700-1,500 microinches.
19. The mask of claim 17 , further comprising:
a forehead support operatively coupled to the shell; and
a patient contacting forehead pad operatively coupled to the shell, wherein at least a portion of the forehead pad includes a third rms surface roughness greater than the second surface roughness.
20. The mask of claim 19 , wherein the third rms surface roughness is greater than 700 microinches.
21. The mask of claim 19 , wherein the third rms surface roughness is substantially the same as the first surface roughness.