Nasal mask system
View Patent ↗A forehead support for a respiratory mask includes a forehead support arm structured to extend from a frame and a forehead support pad provided to the arm. The forehead support pad includes upper headgear connectors adapted to engage upper headgear straps and a flexible region. The upper headgear connectors are constructed of a first material and the flexible region is constructed of a second material that is more flexible than the first material to allow adjustment of the distance of the forehead support pad from the patient's forehead in use.
1. A forehead support for a respiratory mask, comprising:
a forehead support arm structured to extend from a frame; and
a forehead support pad provided to the forehead support arm, the forehead support pad including upper headgear connectors adapted to engage upper headgear straps and a flexible region, the upper headgear connectors comprising a first material and the flexible region comprising a second material that is a different material than the first material, and the second material is more flexible than the first material to allow the upper headgear connectors to bend or flex relative to one another and to the forehead support arm and allow adjustment of a distance of the forehead support pad from a patient's forehead in use.
2. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the forehead support arm is fixed to the frame.
3. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein each of the upper headgear connectors includes a loop hole adapted to receive a respective one of the upper headgear straps.
4. The forehead support according to claim 3 , wherein each of the upper headgear connectors includes a slot that extends into the loop hole to provide a loop through arrangement.
5. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the first material includes nylon.
6. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the second material includes silicone.
7. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the forehead support arm includes a generally thin and elongated configuration having a width of about 1-5 mm.
8. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the upper headgear connectors are arranged at an angle with respect to one another.
9. The forehead support according to claim 8 , wherein the angle between the upper headgear connectors is about 100°-170°.
10. The forehead support according to claim 8 , wherein the flexible region is structured to flatten by tightening or adjusting the upper headgear straps in use.
11. The forehead support according to claim 10 , wherein the flexible region is structured to flatten by a force in the range of 1-8 N.
12. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible region comprises an overmolded connection with the upper headgear connectors and the forehead support arm.
13. The forehead support according to claim 12 , wherein each of the upper headgear connectors and the forehead support arm includes a connecting portion to assist in the overmolded connection of the flexible region to the upper headgear connectors and the forehead support arm.
14. The forehead support according to claim 13 , wherein each connecting portion includes a retention slot to mechanically interlock the flexible region with the upper headgear connectors and the forehead support arm.
15. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the upper headgear connectors and the forehead support arm comprise a separate formation from one another and the flexible region comprises a connection of the upper headgear connectors and the forehead support arm to one another.
16. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the upper headgear connectors comprise a connection to the forehead support arm and the flexible region comprises an overmolded connection with the upper headgear connectors and the forehead support arm.
17. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible region provides a bias, spring, or preload to the upper headgear connectors.
18. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the forehead support allows about 0-30 mm of adjustment in an anterior-posterior direction.
19. A patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to a patient's airways including at least entrance of a patient's nares, wherein the patient interface is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 2 cmH2O to about 30 cmH2O above ambient air pressure in use, throughout a patient's respiratory cycle, while a patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing;
said patient interface comprising:
a frame;
a sealing arrangement provide to the frame, the sealing arrangement defining a breathing chamber and adapted to form a seal with a patient's face;
a positioning and stabilising structure to maintain the sealing arrangement in sealing contact with an area surrounding an entrance to the patient's airways while maintaining a therapeutic pressure at the entrance to the patient's airways; and
a forehead support according to claim 1 provided to the frame.
20. A frame for a patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to a patient's airways including at least entrance of a patient's nares, said frame comprising:
a main body structured to retain a sealing arrangement defining a breathing chamber and adapted to form a seal with a patient's face; and
a forehead support according to claim 1 extending from the main body.
21. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the upper headgear connectors are provided to opposing end portions or sides of the flexible region.
22. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible region interconnects each of the upper headgear connectors with the forehead support arm.
23. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible region is structured and arranged to allow the upper headgear connectors to bend or flex about an apex defined between the upper headgear connectors.
24. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible region is structured and arranged to allow flexibility or adjustment of the upper headgear connectors in an anterior-posterior direction.
25. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein each of the upper headgear connectors are independently flexible or adjustable relative to the forehead support arm.
26. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the upper headgear connectors are arranged at an angle with respect to one another, and the flexible region is structured and arranged to allow adjustment of the angle.