WO2021093910A1

WO2021093910A1 - Disposable insert for breathing masks

Info

Publication number: WO2021093910A1
Application number: PCT/DE2020/000275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus SIEPMANN; Ralf Henker; Hannes POTRECK; Andreas Günther
Original assignee: Cortex Biophysik Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-11-14
Filing date: 2020-11-09
Publication date: 2021-05-20

Abstract

The invention relates to a disposable insert for breathing masks, in particular for breathing masks for hygienic use in the field of ergospirometry or for diagnostic methods in the medical field. Proceeding from the prior art, the problem addressed by the invention is that of creating a disposable insert for breathing masks which can be employed for use of the breathing mask by any number of people, in compliance with required hygiene conditions, and which requires reduced material and manufacturing overheads. This problem is solved in that the disposable insert consists of a flexible material having a surface which is adaptable to the inner surface of each individual breathing mask and can be adhesively attached to the inner surface, and the disposable insert can be detachably connected to the breathing mask by means of fastenings which are attached to the breathing mask or are interlocking and/or frictional fastenings. The disposable insert is advantageously designed such that it has inflatable cavities which enable adaptation to different sizes and shapes of breathing masks.

Description

Disposable insert for breathing masks

The invention relates to a disposable insert for breathing masks, in particular for breathing masks for hygienic use in the field of ergospirometry or for diagnostic methods in the medical field.

Breathing masks are known from the prior art which serve to make the air cleaner for the person wearing the mask. Thus, according to DE 10 2009 003 485 A1, a breathing mask with a microporous membrane and activated carbon is described, in which, among other things, a second layer of absorbent textile is used to build the filter cartridge. In essence, the purpose of the mask is to make the air cleaner for the wearer while allowing oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through the mask during normal breathing of the wearer. For multiple use of this breathing mask by different people, thorough hygienic cleaning is required after each use.

Also known is a spiroergometry device described according to WO 2018/029205 A1 for detecting parameters of the breathing gas. By using a laser to record the parameters of the breathing gas, improved conditions for creating the necessary hygienic conditions are achieved. In this way, the smooth surface in the breathing mask or mouthpiece that is closed all around is prevented. For this purpose, the breathing gas flow is guided along the smooth surface of the breathing gas guide section located in the main body. However, even with this solution, an elaborate, thorough hygienic cleaning of the remaining mask surfaces is necessary after the respiratory mask has been used.

In order to facilitate the hygienic use by several people, a consumable insert is used in the ergospirometry mask described in WO 2015/124580 A1. This insert serves to isolate body fluids from areas of the breathing mask. It is interchangeable and used for application within teams. According to this solution, each team member has his own insert, which is used when the team member uses the mask. However, if the hygienic conditions remain the same, the use of the mask remains limited to the team members involved.

Confirmation copy Another solution for sealing breathing masks is described in EP 1 484 075 A1. A pipe sealing adapter is used for sealing between a breathing mask and the face of the mask wearer. This comprises a curved strip of flexible and pliable material, a slotted curved outer surface which, with the ends of the strip, bends downwards at a relatively acute angle. A slot extends into the curved band from an outer surface thereof midway between the ends. The slot is sized to receive a feed tube or the like so that the material forming the adapter seals around the tube when a mask is pushed or pulled against the seal on the wearer's face. This solution also requires elaborate cleaning processes in order to create the hygienic conditions so that it can be used by different users.

Breathing masks that serve to protect the wearer from contaminants in hazardous environments are also known. For example, DE 697 25 136 T2 describes such a mask which has a face mask lining in which a large number of the soft, flexible linings can be combined. For this purpose, the linings that can be combined with one another have differently shaped breathing openings. These are intended for changing mask wearers who have different face sizes. For the purpose of increasing the hygienic conditions, however, there are no plans to change the linings for economic reasons.

Disadvantages of these prior art solutions are either the limited area of use of the breathing masks for a certain number of users or the high technical and economic outlay required in the manufacture of such inserts for breathing masks.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a disposable insert for breathing masks, which can be used by any number of people while maintaining the required hygienic conditions and which requires less material and manufacturing effort. This object is achieved by the created disposable insert with the descriptive features according to patent claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the disposable insert are described with the characterizing features of patent claims 2 to 12. The interchangeable disposable insert created as an intermediate layer between the face and the breathing mask consists of a flexible material and has a surface that can be adapted to the inner surface of the respective breathing mask and adhered to the inner surface. In the case of the preferably cloth-shaped insert, biocompatible materials are used as an alternative. The surface that can be adapted to the interior of the breathing mask is advantageously provided with adhesives, which are preferably designed as an adhesive layer. These adhesive layers are designed in such a way that they can easily be separated from the surface of the breathing mask when the insert is replaced. This enables easy replacement after a single use of the insert. The adhesive property of the surface of the disposable insert is generated by the use of electrostatic charges for the purpose of economically effective simple design. An efficient adaptation of the disposable inserts to different sizes and shapes of the breathing masks is achieved if the disposable inserts have inflatable cavities. For an efficient production method of the insoles, the fastenings are optionally designed to be connectable with holding elements attached to the breathing mask. Releasable form-fitting and / or force-fitting connections between the insert and the breathing mask are provided as further advantageous configurations of the fastenings. In order to use the disposable insert according to the invention for different mask sizes, the insert has a rib structure which is used to adapt to the different mask sizes. For this purpose, the rib elements of the rib structure are effectively made of elastic material, the distances between the rib elements being adapted to the different mask sizes and being able to be slipped over the respective mask edge. A simple and effective attachment of the disposable insert to the breathing mask is achieved if the disposable insert is designed in such a way that it has a hook function on its material edge facing the mask adapter ring through a positive connection with the edge of the mask adapter ring facing away from the mask. The disposal of the replaced disposable inserts is environmentally friendly if at least the base body of the flexible disposable insert is made of environmentally friendly material. An advantageous, simple, detachable attachment of the disposable insert to the breathing mask is achieved if the disposable insert is dimensioned so that it can be passed through the mask adapter ring and a non-positive clamping connection is established between them by connecting the breathing gas duct to the mask adapter ring. The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment. Show in the drawing illustrating the embodiment

1: the schematic perspective view of the breathing mask and

2: the schematic sectional view of the breathing mask along the interior of the breathing mask to be laid out.

The illustration in FIG. 1 shows the schematic representation of the breathing mask 1 in the applied state. The disposable insert 3 is inserted into the interior of the breathing mask 1 and turned over around the lower face-facing edge of the mask. The basic material used for the disposable insert 3 is silicone, polyurethane or polystyrene. The adhesive layer is applied to the base material by means of a separate process step. The application can be done automatically during production or manually by the respective user. Such machine processes can be dip coating, spray application or spin coating. A spread of the adhesive layer onto the base material is suitable for manual application of the adhesive layer. Suitable materials for the adhesive layer are biocompatible / food-grade materials such as biocompatible adhesive or water. Likewise, peelable adhesive films known per se are suitable as materials for this purpose. These materials ensure the adhesion of the disposable insert 3 over a longer period of time without becoming detached from the surface of the inside of the mask. In addition to the use of an adhesive layer, the connection between the disposable insert 3 and the breathing mask 1 can also be established by using the electrostatic effect of selected or suitable materials. When using this type of connection, the process step required for applying the adhesive layer is omitted, since the required electrostatic effect is inherent in the material selected in each case. The removal of a disposable insert 3 from the breathing mask 1, which is connected to the inside of the mask either by means of an adhesive layer or electrostatically, is carried out manually by the user. The release and removal of the disposable insert 3 takes place without tools and without great manual effort, since the existing adhesive effect is correspondingly low. A part of the everted disposable insert 3 is located on the mask surface and is detachably connected to the breathing mask 1 by the holding elements 4. A part of the disposable insert 3 is also passed through the mask adapter ring 5 accommodating the breathing gas duct 6, slipped around the front opening of the mask adapter ring 5 and the protruding part is releasably clamped by means of the breathing gas duct 6. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view running along the axis of symmetry of the breathing mask 1, with which the configuration of the interior of the breathing mask 1 is shown schematically. The disposable insert 3, which is adapted to the inner surface 2 and which is easily detachably connected to the holding elements 4 of the breathing mask 1, is shown. In this embodiment variant, the disposable insert 3 has a rib-shaped design for the purpose of adapting to different sizes of the breathing masks 1. The rib bodies are preferably cast into the flexible material of the disposable insert 3. Depending on the size of the mask, the rib body lying on the edge of the mask is slipped over the edge of the mask in accordance with the geometric positions provided for this purpose. The part of the disposable insert 3 resting there is passed through the opening of the breathing mask 1 provided with the mask adapter ring 5 and is releasably fastened to the breathing mask 1 by inserting the breathing gas duct 6.

In a further embodiment variant, the disposable insert 3 is provided with cavities which are designed to be inflatable for the purpose of adaptation to the respective inner surface 2 of the breathing mask 1. The air or gas is supplied via outwardly running channels made in the flexible material. By means of these technical measures, the user can inflate the cavities of the disposable insert 3 himself and thus carry out an adaptation to a wide range of sizes and shapes of different breathing masks. It is also possible to supply the air or gas by means of a suitable blowing device. This efficient embodiment variant offers the possibility of a simple design of the disposable insert 3, which at the same time effects attachment to the breathing mask 1 by adapting the disposable insert 3. In addition, this variant offers the possibility of universal use for a wide range of different breathing masks 1. Reference symbol breathing mask inner surface, disposable insert, retaining element, mask adapter ring, breathing gas guide

Claims

1. Disposable insert for breathing masks, which is used for the purpose of hygienic sealing between the mask and its wearer, characterized in that the disposable insert (3) consists of a flexible material, with one attached to the inner surface (2) of the respective breathing mask ( 1) is provided with an adaptable surface that can be adhered to the inner surface (2) and the disposable insert (3) can be detachably connected to the breathing mask (1) by means of positive and / or non-positive fastenings attached to the breathing mask (1).

2. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the disposable insert (3) which can be adapted to the inner surface (2) of the breathing mask (1) is provided with an adhesive layer which enables a detachable separation.

3. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that an attractive electrostatic charge is provided between the inner surface (2) of the breathing mask (1) and the surface of the disposable insert (3) which can be adapted to the inner surface, by means of the one releasable adhesive connection is effected.

4. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that the disposable insert (3) has a rib structure which is used to adapt to different mask sizes.

5. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that the disposable insert (3) has inflatable cavities serving to adapt to different mask sizes.

6. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the rib elements of the rib structure are made of elastic material, the distances from one another are adapted to the different mask sizes and can be slipped over the respective mask edge.

7. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that the disposable insert (3) has fastening elements which can be detachably connected to the holding elements (4) attached to the masks.

8. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that the disposable insert (3) on its edge of the material facing the mask adapter ring (5) is designed in such a way that it is connected to the edge of the mask adapter ring (5) facing away from the mask ) has a hook function.

9. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the base body of the flexible disposable insert (3) is formed from silicone material.

10. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the base body of the flexible disposable insert (3) is formed from polyethylene.

11. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the base body of the flexible disposable insert (3) is formed from polystyrene.

12. Disposable insert for breathing masks according to claim 1, characterized in that the disposable insert (3) is dimensioned so that it is passed through the mask adapter ring (5) and by making the connection between the breathing gas duct (6) and the mask adapter ring (5) this forms a non-positive clamping connection.

For this purpose 2 sheets of drawings.