# US 10,441,736 B2 · Respiratory mask with cheek supports > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,736 B2 - Document ID: US10441736B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/135,020 - Filed: 2016-04-21 - Published: 2016-10-27 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-24 - Assignees: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited - Applicants: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited - Inventors: Andrew Paul Maxwell Salmon; Jonathan David Harwood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441736B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0666: {Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02)} - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 16/0605: {Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient} - A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes} - A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production - A61M 2210/06: Head - A61M 2210/0618: Nose - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A respiratory mask can have a frame supporting a sealing arrangement. Various features of the frame and sealing arrangement can improve comfort and reduce the occurrence of pressure sores. The frame can include cheek supports that have a large surface area configured to spread loads over a greater area of the patient's face and therefore reduce the forces applied to the face and the occurrence of point loads. The seal can have a main body that includes a spring with a silicone skin, wherein the spring applies a substantially constant force to the face and/or nares of the patient. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A respiratory mask, comprising: a sealing arrangement; a frame comprising a pair of cheek supports and bridge portion; a headgear; wherein the frame and the headgear cooperate to define a fixed length loop; wherein, the cheek supports have a large contact area configured, in use, to engage non-boney regions of a patient's cheeks, and the bridge portion extends between the cheek supports and supports the sealing arrangement; wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a pair of nasal prongs, each comprising a main body and a sealing surface that defines an outlet, wherein the main body comprises an elongated tube having a wall structure comprising a constant-force spring configured to bias the sealing surface towards a nare of the patient, wherein the constant-force spring permits the nasal prong to accommodate patients of varying head circumferences and facial geometry by automatically adjusting in length while applying a constant force to the nare of the patient within an adjustment range. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to be supported on a patient's face by the headgear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The respiratory mask of claim 2, wherein the headgear has a pair of side straps that are configured to extend between the cheek supports and a patient's face to form a cheek pad. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein the bridge portion is configured to be supported off a patient's lip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein the pair of nasal prongs are configured to sealingly engage with the nares of the patient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein the cheek supports are semi-rigid and flex laterally. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein the bridge portion further comprises a plenum chamber and a bias flow vent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The respiratory mask of claim 1, further comprising a tube housing configured to secure an air supply tube to the frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The respiratory mask of claim 8, wherein the tube housing comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises an opening configured to receive the air supply tube and the second end is configured to close an open end of the sealing arrangement opposite the air supply tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The respiratory mask of claim 8, wherein the tube housing is configured to be connected to the frame such that the air supply tube is connected to either of a first or second side of a plenum chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein the wall structure further comprises silicone skin covering the constant-force spring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein an air flow path is provided through a center of the constant-force spring. ### Claim 13 A respiratory mask, comprising: a frame comprising a pair of cheek supports and a bridge portion; a sealing arrangement; wherein the cheek supports have a large contact area configured, in use, to engage non-boney regions of a patient's cheeks; wherein the bridge portion extends between the cheek supports and the sealing arrangement is supported by the bridge portion; wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a pair of nasal prongs, each comprising a main body and a sealing surface that defines an outlet, wherein the main body comprises an elongate tube having a wall structure comprising a constant-force spring covered with a thin material, wherein the main body is compressible within a displacement range, wherein the constant-force spring is configured such that the sealing surface applies a constant sealing force to a nare of the patient resulting from compression between 1 to 15 millimeters within the displacement range. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The respiratory mask of claim 13, wherein the frame is configured to be supported on a patient's face by a headgear system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The respiratory mask of claim 14, wherein the headgear system has a pair of side straps that are configured to extend between the cheek supports and a patient's face to form a cheek pad. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The respiratory mask of claim 13, wherein the bridge portion is configured to be supported off a patient's lip. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The respiratory mask of claim 13, wherein the bridge portion further comprises a plenum chamber and a bias flow vent. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The respiratory mask of claim 13, further comprising a tube housing configured to secure an air supply tube to the frame. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The respiratory mask of claim 18, wherein the tube housing comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises an opening configured to receive the air supply tube and the second end is configured to close an open end of the sealing arrangement opposite the air supply tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The respiratory mask of claim 18, wherein the tube housing is configured to be connected to the frame such that the air supply tube is connected to either of a first or second side of a plenum chamber.