Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~2~5~L
This invention relates to inhalation masks and
particularly to inhalation masks that are used in emergency
equipment for supplying oxygen to a victim either from an
oxygen apparatus or supplying air to a person from a rescuer's
lungs via the mouth or supplying air to a person from a bag
resuscitator.
background and Summary
of the Invention
-
In providing emergency supplemental oxygen to a
victim, it has been common to utilize a mask which it placed
over the nose and mouth of the victim and through which
supplemental oxygen is provided by an oxygen apparatus.
More recently, it has also been common to utilize an inhale-
lion mask in providing mouth-to-mask resuscitation instead of
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Among the objectives of the present invention are
to provide an inhalation mask which is low in cost, readily
stored, and can be utilized for either mouth-to-mask supply
of air, or for supply of oxygen from a supplemental oxygen
apparatus or for supply of air from a bag resuscitator with
out changing the mask equipment thereby eliminating delay
in instituting the necessary emergency treatment. The use of
the mask reduces the risk of infection and permits the rescuer
to function and provide an increased amount of needed oxygen
US with less apprehension regarding infection or vomiting that
might occur, permits the rescuer to keep both hanks free to
maintain proper head tilt and firmly hold the mask in place
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creating the best airway possible, minimizes the risk of
over inflation of victims lungs, reduces the risk of inflate
in the stomach from the overflow of air with the potential
of inducing vomiting that is common with positive pressure
resuscitation equipment with air and, as a result, enables
the rescuer to constantly monitor the person's vital signs
and check the mouth and nose for vomiting without removing
the task, is of a universal design for proper fit over a
human face, utilizes the motivating force of the rescuer's
10 lungs with its sensitive responses to the victims pulmonary
needs thereby eliminating the potential dangers of malfunction-
in mechanical equipment, insures ventilation of the mask that
might occur due to accidental obstruction of the normal ventila
t ion opening.
: 15 In accordance with the invention, the inhalation
mask is made of transparent resilient flexible plastic material
and comprises a central body portion including a concave inner
surface and a convex exterior surface adapted to he placed over
the nose and mouth of a victim. The body portion has a
generally triangular periphery and has a tubular extension
integral therewith and extending outwardly from the convex
exterior surface. The mask has an integral peripheral flange
including an apex portion adapted to enc3a~e the forehead, side
portion of the flange extending along the stales of said body
;~: 25 portion being adapted to nudge the face end a bate portion
of the flange extending alc)ny the base of the body pt)rti~n
adapted to engage thy chin The Lange has an integral seal-
1 . I
in bead extending axially on the surface thereof for engage
in the bridge of the nose at the apex of the flange, the
sides of the face and the chin. The tube has a plurality
of circumferential spaced radially extending openings
there through. The thickness of the wall of the central body
portion decreases gradually toward the flange in any radial
direction away from the tube. The central body portion is
provided with a opening in the portion of the wall thereof
between the tube and the chin engaging portion and a diffuser
member is positioned in said opening, the diffuser member
having an inlet providing co~nunication to the exterior of
the mask and spaced outlets within the mask, said outlets
extending transversely toward the side flanges.
:
Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mask embodying
the invention.
FIG. lo is a perspective view showing the mask in
use on a patient.
FIG. 2 is a front elevation Al view of the mask.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation Al view of the mask.
FIG. 4 is a top elevations view of the mask.
FIG. 5 is a bottom elevation Al view of the mask.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines
6-6 in FIG. 2/ parts being removed.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines
7-7 in JIG. 6.
so
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along -the lines
8~8 in FIG. 2, parts being broken away.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line
9-9 in FIG. 3.
Description
Referring to FIG. l, the inhalation mask lo embody-
in the invention is made of a transparent resilient and
flexible plastic material grade and is preferably made of
a material such as transparent polyvinyl chloride having a
dormitory of 60 plus or minus two on the A scale. Such a
plastic is made by Alpha Chemical and Plastics Company of
Newark, New Jersey under the designation 2222C60, To Green.
As shown in FIGS. 1-9, the inhalation mask lo come
lo proses a central body portion if which has a convex exterior
surface 12 and a concave interior surface 13 (FIGS. 6-8) and
is of generally triangular peripheral configuration. The
mask lo includes an integral flange 14 that surrounds the
triangular periphery of the body portion if and defines an
upper apex 15 which is adapted to engage the forehead adjacent
the bridge of the nose, side portions 1.6r 17 thaw extend along
the face of the victim and a base portion 18 that enrages the
chin of the victim (FIG. 2). As further shown in FIGS. 1-8,
the central body portion if includes an integral tube lo
extending axially outwardly from the convex surface 12.
The apex 15 of the flange is curved outwardly toward
tube 9 as shown in FIGS. 3, and 6 and is adapter to enqa~e
the recoiled The base 18 it also curved outw~rclly toward
` the tube 19 for greater conformity with the chin.
Jo 25 The flange 12 further includes an annular continuous
thickened portion defining an integral read 20 at the junior
of the periphery ox the central body portion end the Earl 12
.
Lyle
that extends axially away from the tube 19 and toward the
face of the victim and assists in providing an air-tight
seal with the face of the victim. The radial width of the
bead 20 is such that the flange 12 extends radially outwardly
burled the head 20 and assists in creating the seal.
The thickness of the central body portion 11
decreases gradually toward the flange 12 as shown in FIGS. 6-
8. The thickness is greater in transverse section (FIGS. 7,
8) than in vertical section (FIG. 6). In this manner, the
mask is rigid enough at the center of portion 12 so that it
can be firmly held on the face and yet flexible enough at the
periphery to sealingly engage the face.
The tube 19 includes radial openings 21 which lung-
lion to insure that the interior of the mask is ventilated -to
; 15 the exterior when the mask is pressed against the face and
the end of tube 19 is inadvertently closed by the hand ox the
rescuer. Tube 20 has an inner diameter and an outer diameter
dimensioned to be adaptable to receive the connector of a
bag resuscitator or supplemental oxygen apparatus as established
by the T-29 ASTM Commuter on Safety Requirements of Resuscitators
intended for use with Humans, namely, 15mm and 22mm.
The body portion includes an opening 22 (FIG. 8)
for receiving a diffuser 23 that comprises an axially extend-
in portion 24 having an opening aye and an enlarged portion
25 within the mask. The enlarged portion has transversely
extending openings 26 that communicate with the opening aye
of the tubular portion. nut 27 is threaded on the tubular
portion. The diffuser member and nut are preferably made
of a rigid plastic such as Delxin. The positioning of the
openings 26 transversely directs the oxygen laterally against
the wall of the central body portion 11 so that it does no-t
flow directly from the opening aye to the mouth and nose of
the victim, minimizes the possibility of foreign matter such
as vomit from interfering with the passages. The adapter 23
is utilized in connection with auxiliary oxygen apparatus for
supplying oxygen to the mask.
As shown in Foggily , the mask further includes spaced
holes 27 in the flange portion along the sides of the flange
12 near the base portion 18. A base 29, preferably made of
tubular natural latex, has its ends threaded through the open-
ins 24 to fasten and adjustable connect the band 25 to
the mask.
When used with a supplemental oxygen apparatus, a
tube from the apparatus is connected to the axially extending
portion 24 of the diffuser 23. The rescuer than places the
mask o'er the face of the victim, and attaches the band if
time permits so that oxygen will be supplied through the
diffuser 23. The victim can exhale through the central open-
in of tube 19~ In the event that when the rescuer presses
the mask against the aye, inadvertently obstructs the eons
of tube l3r the radial opines oh offer continuing ventila-
lion to the atmosphere.
When the mask is utilized with a bag resusci~ator,the resuscitator is conrlected to tube I covering oE)eninqs Al
i .
and the diffuser functions as a ventilator.
When used for mouth-to-mask resuscitation, the
rescuer applies the mask to the face and attaches the head
band 25 about the head of the victim. He then is able to
blow through the tubular portion, covering opening 24 with
his mouth, supplying air to the victim.
It can -thus be seen that the mask can be utilized
for supply of air from a hag resuscitator or for mouth-to-
mask supply of air without any changes in the mask. Moreover,
the mask can be utilized for mouth-to-mask resuscitation even
when -the oxygen apparatus is attached to the mask. The mask
is simple in construction and -therefore low in cost, is flex-
isle and can be readily stored. When used for mouth-to-mask
resuscitation, the mask reduces the risk of infection and
lo permits the rescuer to function and provide an increased
amount of needed oxygen with less apprehension regarding
infection or vomiting thaw might occur. The mask permits the
rescuer to position the mask in the best possible position
on the face, minimizes the risk of over-inflation of the
victim's lungs and stomach and enables the rescuer to con
Stanley monitor the mouth and nose. Further the mask provides
proper ventilation at all times for exhalation by the victim
.
