Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Face mask covering a breathing passage
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-12
2003-09-30
Lo, Weilun (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Face mask covering a breathing passage
C128S206230, C128S201270
Reexamination Certificate
active
06626178
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to full face masks to supply breathable air to humans when in environments where it is not possible to breathe, such as underwater masks, or in environments having toxic gases or similar contaminated conditions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is necessary to maintain breathing capabilities, vision capabilities and communication capabilities when human beings or other animals are positioned in environments in which unbreathable circumstances exist, such as, but not limited to, underwater, atmospheres of noxious or toxic gases or in atmospheres where the supply of oxygen is insufficient. Divers, for example, when they submerge below water, must be provided with breathable air, vision and communication capabilities for survival and effective function. Various types of diving helmets, face masks and the like have been developed that enable underwater breathing and underwater vision and communication. Likewise, breathable air must be provided to individuals subject to environments having toxic conditions. Various masks have also been provided for use in unbreathable atmospheres such as those frequently encountered by firemen, chemical warfare participants or those encountering other conditions where an unbreathable environment exists.
In the current state of the art, scuba divers wear a mask that covers his/her eyes and nose. This type of mask is sometimes called a “half mask” to differentiate it from a full face mask that covers the entire face. In a half mask, a rubber skirt seals against the diver's face around the outer sides of the eyes across the forehead and under the nose across the face above the upper lip. A clear lens through which the diver can see when underwater and when on the surface of the water forms the exterior of the front of the mask. Placing the diver's nose in the mask protects the nose from the surrounding water and the nose can be used to blow air/gas into the mask to equalize the necessary air/gas cavity space with the increasing water pressure when descending.
The scuba diver's mouth is outside of the half mask and is exposed to the water in which he/she swims. A resilient rubber mouthpiece, shaped to fit between the outer side of the teeth and gums and the inside of the lips allows a somewhat tight water seal. The center of the mouthpiece forms a tube that extends forward from the diver's lips so that the outer end of the mouthpiece can be connected to a breathing system. The diver inhales and exhales through this tube. Adjacent to the center of the inside opening of this tube on each side are located two “bits” which the diver bites down on to retain the mouthpiece in his/her mouth. It is necessary for the diver to keep the mouthpiece bits clamped in his/her teeth with the lips held snug on the mouthpiece to seal out the water. Minor amounts of water leak into the diver's mouth from time to time. Although irritating, this is not usually a serious concern. The use of the mouthpiece becomes second nature to the diver after a short time, and is not a problem so long as the diver is conscious and coherent, not tired and does not accidentally dislodge the mouthpiece. This system is called an eye
ose mask or half mask and mouthpiece system.
This mouthpiece system has been in use since the 1930s. It was widely used by World War II underwater combat teams with rebreathers as the breathing system. This mouthpiece system was adapted by J. Y. Cousteau with his invention of an open circuit breathing system called the “Aqua Lung” (now a trademark of USD Corp.). This system has been in use for over 50 years.
For the conscious, coherent scuba diver who is submerged in clean, warm water, the eye
ose mask and separate mouthpiece is a very good system. Underwater, if the breathing system malfunctions, the diver can open his/her mouth to get rid of the mouthpiece of the malfunctioning breathing device and insert a mouthpiece of another breathing device that he/she carries as a spare, or can use a breathing device provided by another diver. This is an important safety consideration that is part of the training and confidence building necessary for scuba diving.
Conserving the limited self contained air/gas supply is important for scuba diving. Prior to entering the water, the diver can put on all of his/her equipment without the necessity of using the air/gas supply. Just prior to water entry the breathing regulator mouthpiece is placed in the mouth. After water entry, sometimes a surface swim to the dive site is necessary. The diver can further conserve his air/gas supply by using a snorkel for the swim and later inserting the mouthpiece to dive.
Upon return to the surface, a scuba diver can drop his/her breathing device mouthpiece and breathe atmospheric air without removing his/her mask. A snorkel can be used to breath while swimming at the surface, thus allowing the diver to continue to see underwater. Not only does this conserve air/gas, but the diver may have no air supply left with which to breathe. Being able to conveniently breathe atmospheric air at such times becomes of utmost importance.
Although the eye
ose mask and mouthpiece system is the preferred way to scuba dive at the present time, verbal communication cannot be practically accomplished when using it. The electronic/mechanical design and manufacture of wireless underwater communicators is now a practical matter and well within the financial feasibility of scuba divers. The breathing system mouthpiece prevents formation of words and there is no acoustic chamber into which to speak the words so that a microphone can pick up and transmit the signals to another diver or the surface.
Underwater, if the diver becomes lax and relaxes his teeth and lips, some water will leak into his/her mouth. If the diver becomes unconscious underwater, the mouthpiece will fall out. If the diver is unconscious or incoherent and loses his/her mouthpiece, another diver going to his/her aid cannot replace the mouthpiece and there is no way of connecting any other breathing device to the distressed diver. A spare emergency breathing device cannot be connected to the diver who is in need of breathing while underwater. The unconscious or incoherent diver must be taken to the surface or to an underwater air bubble station, e.g. diving bell, to continue his/her breathing or to attempt resuscitation. Since scuba divers very rarely utilize underwater diving bells, the surface is usually the only option.
Cold water diving poses its own problems. Cold water exposure of the lips and face area that is outside the half mask and diving suit of the scuba diver is uncomfortable and results in heat loss from the skin area around the mouthpiece. In very cold water, the diver's lips can lose their ability to retain the breathing system mouthpiece. Scuba diving in polluted water is also very dangerous to the diver using the eye
ose mask and mouthpiece system. Pollutants have full contact to the diver's lips and from there to the interior of the mouth.
Another system that can be used by scuba divers is called the full face mask system. The full face mask covers the diver's entire face from the forehead, around and down the outside of each eye to under the chin. In the past, the full face mask has been used primarily by umbilical equipped, surface supplied divers. With the advent of wireless underwater communication these masks are being used by scuba divers to meet their need for speech capability.
There are currently three types of underwater full face masks. The first is a full face mask with one chamber. The interior of the full face mask is open without divisions. The diver's eyes, nose and mouth are all in an undivided sealed interior of the mask. A few masks have breathing regulator systems that access the interior of the mask on the sides, but most designs of this type mask have the breathing system access the interior of the mask at a point just in front of the diver's mouth. A mouthpiece
Morgan Connie Lyn
Morgan William Bevly
Ryan Peter Mark
Schultz Trent Matthew
Jacobson & Holman PLLC
Kirby Morgan Dive Systems, Inc.
Lo Weilun
Mitchell Teena
LandOfFree
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