Ergonomic chin support for medical headgear

An ergonomic chin support for use in combination with headgear comprising flexible straps, said ergonomic chin support comprising:

• a generally arcuate and substantially rigid chin cradle;
• first and second substantially rigid and substantially collinear extensions formed at opposite ends of said chin cradle, and adapted for being pulled by respective straps of the headgear to urge said chin cradle against the mandible of the patient;
• and
• means for retaining said ergonomic chin support at a fixed location along respective lengths of the straps.

In combination with a ventilation interface, and headgear comprising flexible straps adapted for locating said ventilation interface on a patient, an ergonomic chin support comprising:

• a generally arcuate and substantially rigid chin cradle;
• first and second substantially rigid and substantially collinear extensions formed at opposite ends of said chin cradle, and adapted for being pulled by respective straps of said headgear to urge said chin cradle against the mandible of the patient;
• and
• means for retaining said ergonomic chin support at a fixed location along respective lengths of said straps.

A method for maintaining a patent airway during noninvasive ventilation of a patient, the method comprising:

• locating a ventilation interface on the patient;
• securing the ventilation interface using headgear comprising a chin cradle, flexible straps, and first and second substantially rigid and substantially collinear extensions formed at opposite ends of the chin cradle;
• using the flexible straps applied to respective extensions, pulling the chin cradle against the mandible of the patient;
• and
• selectively retaining the chin cradle at a fixed location along respective lengths of the flexible straps.