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US 10,569,044 B2Granted
Manufactured to shape headgear and masks
AssigneeResMed Pty Ltd
InventorsJessica Lea Dunn, Justin John Formica, Anthony Paul Barbara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A headgear or headgear segments are manufactured to shape thereby producing little or no waste material. Techniques such as knitting, braiding, crocheting, and 3D printing can be used produce the headgear.
Claims28
A headgear for use in supporting a respiratory mask in position on a patient's face for positive pressure treatment of the patient, the headgear comprising:
- a fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure formed in one piece to shape without being cut from a sheet of material, said fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure including at least a first headgear component and being configured to facilitate support of a respiratory mask in position on a patient's face for positive pressure treatment of the patient,
- wherein the fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure includes at least one edge, said edge being an uncut portion of the unitary seamless structure,
- wherein the fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure comprises a first yarn or thread and a second yarn or thread, the second yarn or thread having a lower melt temperature than the first yarn or thread,
- wherein the second yarn or thread is melted to stiffen the second yarn or thread into a rigidizing portion of the fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure,
- wherein the at least first headgear component comprises a strap, and
- wherein the fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure comprises a 3 dimensional curvature to conform to a curvature of the patient's head.
3 more elements
A method of forming headgear for use in holding a respiratory mask in position on a patient's face for positive pressure treatment of the patient, comprising:
- fully-fashioning a unitary, seamless structure in one piece to shape without cutting the unitary seamless structure from a sheet of material, the fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure comprises a first yarn or thread and a second yarn or thread, the second yarn or thread having a lower melt temperature than the first yarn or thread;
- and
- melting the second yarn or thread to stiffen the second yarn or thread into a rigidizing portion of the fully-fashioned unitary seamless structure,
- wherein said fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure includes at least a first headgear component and is configured to facilitate support of a respiratory mask in position on a patient's face for positive pressure treatment of the patient,
- wherein the fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure includes at least one edge, said edge being an uncut portion of the unitary seamless structure,
- wherein the at least first headgear component comprises a strap, and
- wherein the fully-fashioned unitary, seamless structure comprises a 3 dimensional curvature to conform to a curvature of the patient's head.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.