Summary
The genereal purpose of the invention is to porvide a breathing hose support system that carries the weight of the hose and mimics the sleeping movements of the CPAP mask wearer and by so doing eliminates the restrictive drag and pull on the face mask.
Listing Information
Posted by Ernest Hodson under Healthcare
 Product Idea/Concept |
 Patent for Sale |
Original Creative Works |
| Trademark |
IP Portfolio |
IP Wanted |
| Other |
Photo
Full Description
A Patent Pending device for the support of the supply line used to supply air from a CPAP (continious Positive Airline Pressure) air generating equipment to a face mask worn by an apnea sufferer of another illness requiring the use of similar type hose delivery system.
The invention consists of a supply hose stand with a vertical support telescopic pole, similar to a typical I.V. pole on wheels or alernately mounted on the bed rail of a standard domestic bed and having a rotator Assembly extending from the vertical support, a rotator stop mechanically connected between the vertical suport and the rotator assembly, wherein the rotatorstop limits a horozontal rotation of the mrotator assembly, a horizontal support extendingf from the roator assembly, wherein the horizontal su;pport rotates about the vertical support via the rotator assembly and at one hose support extending from the horizontal support.
Breathing Mask Supply Line Suspension System
Design Objectives & Criteria for Development
DESIGN OBJECTIVES
A supply hose suspension system designed to improve the health and comfort of the mask wearer, improve the effectiveness of the face mask used by persons with apnea or other medical condition requiring the wearing of a face mask, and to reduce the weight, pull and entanglement associated with the supply line, and the effects these forces have upon the integrity of face mask, i.e. the breaking of the mask’s seal with loss of pressure and in some cases the pulling of the mask from the face, all contributing causes to non-compliance to CPAP usage.
It was designed to be a complete system which included an equipment platform to accommodate CPAP equipment and to be able to position it so it was easily reachable and convenient for bedside use. Since the majority of persons requiring the use of a CPAP use them in a home environment, the system was also designed to break down to a less conspicuous size that could be stored relatively out of sight and/or be converted to a daytime alternate use to satisfy a ladies desire not to have a bedroom looking like a hospital room. The Lower supporting base section has an Equipment Platform, which can be raised, lowered or turned to suit the user and is attached to a rolling base or an optional semi-permanent bed rail positioned base when movement is not required.
A Rotator Assembly is located on the upper end of a three section telescopic support pole and has the ability to swing in a horizontal arc of ninety degrees initiated by the movement of the user returns automatically to a preferred position. The speed of return is adjustable.
Passing through the rotator Assembly and extending over the bed is a Travers Rod and Traverse Rod Extension whose purpose is to carry the rolling Carriers to which are attached the Supply Line Supports. The Traverse Rod and Rod Extension and the Rolling Assemblies riding upon them follow the movements of the user. The Traverse Rod Extension and positioning of the Traverse Rod allows the system to accommodate all bed sizes. The traverse Rod and Extension are inclined upward and the Carrier Assemblies upon inactivity, gravity feed to their initial preferred position alongside the user’s head. Two types of supports are employed. One type is a hose pass through type and the second, similar, but with a rotating inner ring that turns to compensate for hose torque build-up.
With the mask in place the user is able to move in all direction, forward, backward, sitting up, turning over, standing alongside or sitting adjacent to the bed without hose entanglement or hose pull on the face mask.
Major Components
1. An easily positioned System Base Platform* that slides over the vertical edge of a typical residential use bed frame and is secured with two Cam Levers and supported on its outer edge by height adjustable Legs. The Platform provides the support for an attached Telescopic Pole Enclosure.
*As used in a health facility, a Telescopic Pole with a weighted base on wheels with wheel locks (similar to a standard hospital type I.V. stand) to which is attached an Equipment Platform easily raised or lowered.2. A Telescopic Pole Enclosure with a support Arm for a bedside Supply Platform of a size required for a typical CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) Supply Unit. The adjustable surface height of the platform is below the bed surface placing the controls for the unit easily reachable from the bed. If not used for a Supply Platform, the surface is a good height for use as a night stand.
3. A two section Telescopic Pole supporting a Rotator Assembly extends out of the supporting Enclosure. The degree of extension of the Telescopic Pole is based on the requirements of the equipment user, bed height, sitting and rising clearances, etc., and is design modifiable to increase its height while retaining the system’s ability to lower and convert to a storage position.
4. The Rotator is a multi-functional assembly of the BMSLSS and is located on the upper end of the supporting Telescopic Pole. A Carrier Support Traverse Rod with a Rod Extension passes through and extends outward from it and can be slid through the Rotator to extend its length from the Rotator over the bed area.. The Rotators interior components consist of two Bearings, an Internal Spring with a Tension Adjustment, a Stop that limits the Traverse Bar’s degree of rotation, and a Traverse Bar vertical adjustment mechanism.
The Rotator allows for the automatic return of the Traverse Bar to a predetermined position which aligns the Supply Line entry into the Face Mask from the headboard side rather than a frontal entry that inhibits the user’s movements in a forward direction, as in sitting up or getting out of bed. Spring tension is adjustable by pulling outward an indexing stop, turning the supporting pole whole holding the rotator, then releasing the stop pin. A model is designed to incrementally increase or decrease the return speed tension by turning a knob on the Rotator.
5. Traverse Bar. The Traverse Bar’s primary function is to support and be a carrier rail for one or more Carrier Assemblies or Hose Supports. The Traverse Bar rotates outward with the forward movements of the mask wearer and its Internal Spring tensions. When the outward motion of the Traverse Bar reverses, the tension is released, and returns the
Traverse Bar to the starting position. The pitch of the Traverse Rod level position is controlled by an adjustment mechanism located on the Rotator and is used to pitch the Traverse bar so gravity feeds the carriers back to a preferred starting location. The Traverse Bar’s length can be increased by sliding the base rod through the rotator and extending the Extension Bar in telescopic fashion by pulling it outward. Pre-marked positions could easily be marked on both rods for extending them for twin, double, queen and king sized beds. The base Traverse bar length of 26 inches is extendable to 48 inches with the Extension and is design modifiable. The Rotator’s circular motion applied to the Traverse Bar eliminates supply line pull on the Face mask and extends the user’s movement range making sitting in a bedside chair and standing positions possible while wearing a mask.
6. Traverse Bar Extension extends outward from the Base Traverse Rod over the bed area. Its function is to support the carrier from which is suspended the primary hose Support and Relief Spring. The finials on the ends of both the Traverse Bar and Traverse Bar Extension are handy when used as an alternate location for hanging a mask when not in use.
7. Carriers, one or more, each consisting of a pair of ball bearing wheels that ride freely upon the Traverse Bar activated by movements of the user or gravity.
8. Tilting Mechanism: The Carriers can be assisted in their return by adjusting theTilting Mechanism on the Rotator Assembly. This upward tilt along with the weight of the Supply line between supports will return the assembly to the preferred position.
9. Primary Hose Support Assembly consists of the Carrier, described above, and which supports a Swivel fitting attached to a Relief Spring for absorbing quick movements of the mask wearer, and a Torque Support (See Item # 11) designed to support and to eliminate twist in the Supply Line, all which function to eliminate the Face Mask pull initiated by the movements of the CPAP user.
10. Secondary Hose Support Assembly (without the Relief Spring) rides on the Base Traverse Rod and also supports the supply line. It is used when the Traverse Bar and Extension are extended outward for wider bed arrangements and has a 360 degree Swivel for horizontal turning of the supply line and a Torque Support. The Assembly’s position keeps the Supply Line looping to the Primary Assembly, the supply line supported, clear of the CPAP user and aids in the return of the Assembly to the preferred position.
11. The Torque Eliminator Supports are multi functional units of the Support Assemblies. They support the Supply Line and are a means for supply Line length adjustment and the elimination of Supply Line twist. They have a flexible rubber or plastic membrane with a sized hole in the center that allows a coil type Supply Line to be pulled through while retaining its hold on the Supply Line. The flexible membranes are sandwiched between rigid circular plastic members fastened to Rotating Rings within Outer Rings attached to the supporting Swivels. Adjustments to the length of a Supply Line from the Supply, between Torque Supports or to the Face Mask are made by hand pulling the Supply Line through the Membranes of the Torque Supports.
