VENTILATION MASK

Abstract

Disclosed is a nasal ventilation mask having separate ports to monitor end-tidal CO.sub.2 expulsion integrated into the mask in order to monitor end-tidal CO.sub.2 expelled nasally or orally. Also disclosed is a CPR mask for nose-to-mouth and/or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, having a body shaped to cover the nose and/or mouth of a victim, said mask including a CO.sub.2 absorber for eliminating at least in part rescuer's exhaled CO.sub.2 delivered to the victim.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A nasal ventilation mask having tabs or eyelets for attaching the mask anteriorly with a mask anchor, or posteriorly with a traditional anesthesia mask strap, said mask characterized by one or both of the following features: (a) adapted to accommodate a combined anterior-posterior head strap attached to the mask alone, or to the mask and a support surface, to hold a patient's head and/or neck against movement; and (b) adapted to secure a patient's head with a head strap to a support surface, wherein the patient's head and the support surface remain in a desired position even when a provider changes the patient's head and/or neck angles.

15. A nasal mask, wherein the mask is usable as an oxygen transport mask or as a ventilation mask for providing O.sub.2 and anesthesia gases, and for monitoring end-tidal CO.sub.2.

16. The mask of claim 15, said mask having one or more ports for monitoring end-tidal CO.sub.2, wherein the mask is adapted for use for CPAP pre-operatively, intra-operatively, and/or post-operatively.

17. The mask of claim 15, said mask having ports for monitoring end-tidal CO.sub.2, wherein the mask is adapted to be connected to a resuscitator bag such that a patient's mouth and airway are not obstructed by the resuscitator bag, whereby to allow for direct laryngoscopy and intubation.

18. The mask of claim 15, wherein the mask is attachable anteriorly with a mask anchor, or posteriorly with a conventional anesthesia mask strap.

19. The mask of claim 15, said mask having an O.sub.2 port adapted for introduction of oxygen into the mask, a ventilation port and a gas monitoring attachment integral to or attached to the mask.

20. The mask of claim 15, said mask having a built in scavenger system for collecting anesthetic gases that may leak out from around a patient's mouth and/or nose.

21. The mask of claim 15, said mask having a chin strap adapted for application to a patient's submental space, attached to said mask, for applying pressure to force a patient's tongue against the patient's soft palate and induce an obstruction of the retro-glossal space, whereby to reduce or prevent leakage of gases out of the patient's mouth and allow the patient to breathe out the nose, wherein the chin strap is adapted to release pressure, if needed, during exhalation to prevent an expiratory obstruction.

22. A CPR mask for nose-to-mouth and/or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, comprising a body shaped to cover a nose and/or mouth of a patient, said mask including a CO.sub.2 absorber for eliminating at least in part a rescuer's exhaled CO.sub.2 delivered to the patient.

23. The mask of claim 22, wherein the CO.sub.2 absorber is coated on an inside surface of the mask.

24. The mask of claim 22, wherein the mask further includes a ventilation tube, wherein the CO.sub.2 absorber is located in the ventilation tube.

25. The mask of claim 24, further including a biological filter, incorporated into the ventilation tube.

26. The mask of claim 22, further including a one-way valve.

27. The mask of claim 22, including straps adapted for holding the mask to a head of the patient.

28. The mask of claim 22, wherein the mask further includes a compliant periphery adapted to conform to a face of the patient, wherein the periphery includes a soft, compliant air bladder or a resiliently deformable foam cushion.

29. The mask of claim 22, further including a biological filter incorporated into an inside of the mask.

30. A method for ventilating a patient, comprising: supplying a nasal ventilation mask having tabs or eyelets for attaching the mask anteriorly with a mask anchor, or posteriorly with a traditional anesthesia mask strap, said mask having a combined anterior-posterior head strap, where the posterior head strap is adapted to attach to the mask alone, or to attach to the mask and a support surface; positioning the mask on a patient's head; and securing the patient's head with the head strap to the support surface, whereupon the patient's head is maintained in a desired position relative to the support surface even when the provider changes the head and/or neck angles.

31. A method for providing nose-to-mouth and/or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, comprising: providing a ventilation mask having a body shaped to cover the nose and/or mouth of a patient, said mask including a CO.sub.2 absorber for eliminating at least in part a rescuer's exhaled CO.sub.2 delivered to the patient; positioning the mask on a head of the patient in need of resuscitation; and administering resuscitation to the patient.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the CO.sub.2 absorber is coated on an inside surface of the mask.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the mask further includes a ventilation tube, wherein CO.sub.2 absorber is located in the ventilation tube.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein a biological filter is incorporated into the mask or a ventilation tube for the mask.

35. The method of any of claim 31, wherein the mask further includes a one-way valve.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the mask includes straps adapted for holding the mask to the head of a patient.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the mask further includes a compliant periphery adapted to conform to a face of the patient, wherein the periphery includes a soft, compliant air bladder or a resiliently deformable foam cushion.

Description

[0035] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be seen from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings, wherein

[0036] FIGS. 1a and 1b are front view and top views of a nasal ventilation mask in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 is an inside view of the FIG. 1a ventilation mask;

[0038] FIGS. 3a and 3b are plan views showing the ventilation mask in accordance with the present invention on a patient's head;

[0039] FIGS. 4a and 4b are views similar to FIGS. 3a and 3b showing a chin strap attached to the mask;

[0040] FIGS. 5a and 5b show an alternative configuration of the nasal mask with an end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitor in accordance with the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an alternative configuration of nasal mask ventilation system in accordance with the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 7 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of nasal ventilation mask with a CO.sub.2 monitor in accordance with the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 8 is a plan view of yet another alternative configuration of nasal mask with a CO.sub.2 monitor in accordance with the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 9 is a view, in partial cross-section of a CPR mask in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; and

[0045] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of a CPR mask in accordance with the present invention.

[0046] A nasal ventilation mask 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b. Optimally it contains 4 gas openings, but can contain less or more than four as well. The first is the ventilation port 12 that supplies O.sub.2 and other gasses either during anesthesia or for NIPPV in critically ill patients and allows for any end-tidal CO.sub.2 that is expelled nasally to be retrieved from the patient. The second is an Oral opening 14 under the nose but isolated from the nasal cavity created by the mask over the patient's nose. The purpose of opening 14 is for scavenging anesthesia gases and end-tidal CO.sub.2 that are expelled orally from the patient. In addition to reducing or eliminating anesthetic gasses from entering the Operating Room and becoming a hazard, it allows for the end-tidal CO.sub.2 expelled from the patient's lungs and escaping orally to be monitored. The third opening is the Gas Scavenging/end-tidal CO2 port 16 that is connected to the opening by a channel 18 inside the mask (see FIG. 2) that is isolated from the nasal cavity. The Gases, including any expelled end-tidal CO.sub.2, leave the mask through port 16 and are guided by a tube 20 to a gas scavenging filter and end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitor 32 (see FIG. 3) that samples gas from the gas scavenging line. The fourth opening is an O.sub.2 port 22 that is capped off during anesthesia, but may be connected to an O.sub.2 source (not shown) either pre-operation, intra-operation, or post-operation. When O.sub.2 is supplied, the Ventilation tube is detached from the ventilation port 12 so that end-tidal CO2 and be expelled nasally. A gas hood 24 located under the nose around the oral opening 14 extends beyond the mask as shown. It is optionally included in order to extend the influence of the Oral Opening 14 in the mask in order to contain a greater percentage of the expelled gases from the patient.

[0047] The mask also includes three eyelets or tabs 60, 62, 64, or four eyelets or tabs 66 68, 70, 72 (FIG. 7) for attaching a chin strap or head strap, as described below, or for attaching straps to the operating table in accordance with the teachings of our co-pending application PCT/U.S.14/44934 or our co-pending PCT application PCT/U.S.15/34277.

[0048] An interior view of the nasal ventilation mask 10 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. The ventilation port 12 and O.sub.2 port 22, are connected to the nasal cavity 26. Orally expelled gases travel from the Oral opening 14 on the outside of the mask through Gas Channel 18 and out the Gas Scavenger & end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitoring port 16 on to the Scavenger device and end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitor. The Gas channel 18 separates the Nasal cavity 26 created by the ventilation mask over the nose and the Oral regions of the patient.

[0049] When O.sub.2 or O.sub.2 and anesthesia gasses and are being supplied to the patient, they travel to the nasal cavity 26 through a ventilation circuit 28 attached to the ventilation port 12, and a cap shown in phantom at 30, seals the O.sub.2 port. Post operation, the cap 30 can be removed from the O.sub.2 port 22 and an O.sub.2 line attached to the port, supplying O.sub.2 to the patient. The ventilation circuit 28 is removed from the ventilation port 12 and the nasal cavity 26 is open to the atmosphere where end-tidal CO.sub.2 can be expelled nasally.

[0050] The gas circuit for both the Nasal Mask Ventilation/end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitor Oral Gas Scavenger/end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitoring lines are illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. FIG. 3a shows nasal gas flow from the Nasal cavity 26 connected to the Ventilation Circuit 28 and to the end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitoring equipment 32. FIG. 3b shows the orally expelled gasses entering the Oral opening and flowing through the Gas Scavenger line to a recovery device 34 and the associated line that is connected to the scavenger line and flows to the end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitoring equipment. Note that the opening to the scavenger line should be positioned approximately 90 to the scavenger gas flow in order for the local pressure to be higher than it would be if the opening were perpendicular to the gas flow. If it were perpendicular, a negative pressure would prevent the end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitoring line from being able to sample the flow due to the negative pressure gradient.

[0051] Referring also to FIGS. 4a and 4b, a chin strap 36 also can be applied to the submental space, attached to the nasal mask 10, and apply a pressure to force the tongue against the soft palate and induce an obstruction of the retro-glossal space, which will help prevent any leak of gases out of the patient's mouth and allow the patient to breath out of the nose. The chin strap 36 also has the ability to release pressure, if needed, during exhalation to prevent an expiratory obstruction and allow end-tidal CO2 and other gases to be released out the mouth.

[0052] In an alternate configuration, the gas circuit for both the Nasal Mask Ventilation and end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitoring are illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b. The figure shows a 2-Way, 3 Port valve 40 that connects the Nasal circuit to the end-tidal CO.sub.2 monitoring equipment. The anesthesiologist decides which region, the nasal, oral region, or both simultaneously, should be monitored for end-tidal CO.sub.2.

[0053] A side view of the alternate configuration for the nasal mask ventilation and monitoring end-tidal CO.sub.2 expulsion from the oral airway is illustrated in FIG. 6. Note the 2-Way, 3 Port valve 40 has been turned in the direction of the mouth for sampling end-tidal CO.sub.2.

[0054] The nasal ventilation mask also allows only one combined anterior-posterior head strap to be attached, where the posterior head strap can attach to the mask alone, or can attach to the mask and then to a surface, which will prevent movement of the patient's head and/or neck. By securing the patient's head with the head strap to the support surface, the patient's head will stay in the desired position and the support surface will stay in the desired position when the provider changes the head and/or neck angles.

[0055] FIG. 7 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention, in which a patient is being provided oxygen via an O.sub.2 line connected to the O.sub.2 port on the ventilation mask. The exhaled gasses are exhausted to the atmosphere via the ventilation port 12 as illustrated in FIG. 7. If the patient is unconscious due to anesthesia, there is a desire to assure that the CO.sub.2 is being exhaled. This can be accomplished by adding a T-Shaped gas monitoring attachment 50 that slides onto the mask ventilation port 12. The main body of the attachment 50 which is tubular in shape allows exhaled gasses to be exhausted to the atmosphere. To the side of the attachment is a tubular opening 52, nominally at a 90 angle off to the side. The end of this opening 52 can have a luer lock or any other kind of securing connection. Exhaled gas from the main flow can be sampled through this opening if a gas monitoring line 54 connected to a gas monitor is attached to the gas monitoring line interface.

[0056] An alternative approach for accomplishing the same gas sampling feature is illustrated in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the gas monitoring line interface is an integral element of the mask ventilation port 12. In this configuration, O.sub.2 flows into the O.sub.2 port via a supply line and the exhaust gases are passed to the atmosphere via the ventilation port 12. The side of the ventilation port 12 is a tubular opening 56, nominally at 90 angle off to the side. The end of this opening can have a luer lock or any other kind of securing connection. Exhaled gas from the main flow can be sampled through this opening if a gas monitoring line connected to a gas monitor is attached to the gas monitoring line surface.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a first embodiment of a CPR mask in accordance with another aspect of our invention, designated 110, to affect rescue breathing, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or any other CPR procedure requiring emergency breathing assistance. Mask 110 is shaped to cover the nose and/or mouth of a victim, and includes a soft and compliant periphery 112 to conform to the face of a victim upon application of moderate force to obtain a tight-fitting mask seal. Typically the periphery 112 of the mask includes a soft, compliant air bladder 114 or resiliently deformable foam cushion or the like.

[0058] A ventilation tube 116 is attached to an integral inlet port 118 protruding from the mask through which air may be supplied by the rescuer by exhaling into the tube. Ventilation tube 116 or inlet port 118 typically includes a one-way valve 120 that permits air to enter the mask through tube 116. Ventilation tube 116 and its associated valve 120 may be formed integrally with the port 118, or may be a replaceable, disposable element or package. (FIG. 10).

[0059] The inside surface 122 of mask 110 is coated in part by a CO.sub.2 absorbing material such as activated carbon or a zeolite. Also, certain minerals such as serpentinite advantageously may be employed. Typically, these materials are sorted to optimal size and encased in a filter material 124 bound to the inside surface 122 of the mask 110. Alternatively, the inside surface 122 of the mask 110 may he coated with a CO.sub.2 absorbing polymer such as polyethylenimine containing fumed silica or the like as reported in Scientific American, Jan. 6, 2012, page 33.

[0060] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, a CO.sub.2 filter 126 containing CO.sub.2 absorbing material may be incorporated into ventilation tube 116.

[0061] In use, the rescuer places the CPR mask 110 over the nose and/or mouth of a victim to initiate emergency ventilation of the victim. The rescuer applies moderate force to obtain a substantially air-tight seal against the victim's face, and ventilation is then supplied by the rescuer by exhaling into the ventilation tube 116. While the exhaust from the rescuer contains CO.sub.2, most of the CO.sub.2 will be removed by the CO.sub.2 filter material.

[0062] Mask 110 may be formed in different sizes, for example, adult size, youth size and child size, to accommodate different size faces. A feature and advantage of the CPR mask of the present invention is that significantly reduces the amount of CO.sub.2 administered to the victim. Also, the mask helps to protect both victim and rescuer in an emergency situation by preventing transfer of disease.

[0063] Various changes may be made in the above invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, a biological filter (shown in phantom at 130 in FIG. 10) also may be incorporated into the mask or the ventilation tube 116. Additionally, the mask may include straps 132 for strapping the mask to the victim's head, thus freeing the rescuer from having to press the mask against the victim's face. Still other changes are possible.