Adjusting a ventilation mask
In a method for adjusting a ventilation mask, a ventilative state is measured of a ventilation mask that is placed over a respiratory opening of a patient. A sealing portion of the ventilation mask is for establishing a fluid seal between the ventilation mask and the patient. The sealing portion comprises a plurality of bladders. An unintentional leak of the fluid seal is determined based on a measured change of the ventilative state. A bladder of the plurality of bladders is adjusted to seal the unintentional leak.
1. A method for adjusting a ventilation mask, said method comprising:
measuring a ventilative state of said ventilation mask placed over a respiratory opening of a patient, wherein a sealing portion of said ventilation mask fluidly seals said ventilation mask to said patient, and wherein said sealing portion comprises a plurality of bladders;
adjusting a compliant nose bridge seal portion and laterally extending zygomatic facial interface portions that are each configured to engage a zygomatic facial region to cause a cheek skin to stretch laterally to open a nasal passage;
determining an unintentional leak of said fluid seal based on a measured change of said ventilative state; and
adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to seal said unintentional leak.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said measuring a ventilative state further comprises:
measuring an airflow.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said measuring a ventilative state further comprises:
measuring a pressure.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to seal said unintentional leak further comprises:
automatically adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to seal said unintentional leak.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to seal said unintentional leak further comprises:
sequentially adjusting bladders of said plurality bladders.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to seal said unintentional leak further comprises:
automatically adjusting bladders of said plurality bladders according to a predefined pattern.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to seal said unintentional leak further comprises:
adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders such that a measured ventilative state returns to a prescribed ventilative state.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to seal said unintentional leak further comprises:
simultaneously adjusting more than one bladder of said plurality of bladders.
9. A method for adjusting a ventilation mask, said method comprising:
fluidly sealing said ventilation mask over a respiratory opening of a patient, wherein said ventilation mask comprises (i) a sealing portion that fluidly seals ventilation mask to said patient, wherein said sealing portion comprises a plurality of bladders, and (ii) laterally extending zygomatic facial interface portions that are each configured to engage a zygomatic facial region in physical contact with said patient;
adjusting a compliant nose bridge seal portion and laterally extending zygomatic facial interface portions to cause a cheek skin to stretch laterally to open a nasal passage;
measuring a ventilative state of said ventilation mask;
determining an unintentional leak of said fluid seal based on a measured change of said ventilative state; and
adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to seal said unintentional leak.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to decrease necrosis.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to decrease necrosis further comprises:
inflating a bladder of said plurality of bladders to decrease necrosis.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to decrease necrosis further comprises:
deflating a bladder of said plurality of bladders to decrease necrosis.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to decrease necrosis further comprises:
automatically adjusting a bladder of said plurality of bladders to decrease necrosis.
14. An adjustable ventilation mask comprising:
a plurality of bladders that fluidly seals said ventilation mask to a patient;
laterally extending zygomatic facial interface portions that are each configured to engage a zygomatic facial region;
an adjustable compliant nose bridge seal portion coupled to said laterally extending zygomatic facial interface portions to cause a cheek skin to stretch laterally to open a nasal passage;
wherein said ventilation mask is configured to fluidly couple to a ventilator, and said plurality of bladders are configured to be adjusted by inflating or deflating one or more of the bladders upon detection of a ventilative state change indicating an unintentional leak between the mask and the patient.
15. The adjustable ventilation mask of claim 14 , wherein said ventilative state is at least one of pressure or airflow.
16. The adjustable ventilation mask of claim 14 , wherein two or more non-adjacent bladders are fluidly connected.
17. The adjustable ventilation mask of claim 14 , wherein said each of the plurality of bladders are configured to be separately fluidly connected to a ventilator.
18. The adjustable ventilation mask of claim 14 , wherein said plurality of bladders adjustable to a predefined pattern.
19. The adjustable ventilation mask of claim 14 , wherein said plurality of bladders are sequentially adjustable.