Device for preventing leakage from the mouth

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for avoiding leakage from the mouth when nasally supplying a respiratory gas on a pressure level lying above ambient pressure. The device comprises a base body made from an elastomeric material and comprises an inner edge portion and an outer ring edge portion, wherein the two ring edge portions are coupled with each other via a web portion, and wherein furthermore the base body, in combination with the two ring edge portions and the web portion, is configured in such a manner that in the application position of the base body the latter defines a lip receiving area for receiving the lips of the user.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system supplying a respiratory gas on a pressure level lying above ambient pressure, comprising:
 a mouth seal formed from an elastomeric material, the mouth seal having a lip receiving area adapted to receive lips of a patient, the mouth seal being a solid member dimensioned to cover a mouth of the patient in use,   wherein the mouth seal is adapted to suppress exhalation of air from the patient's mouth.   
     
     
         9 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the elastomeric material is silicone. 
     
     
         10 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the elastomeric material is a transparent silicone rubber material. 
     
     
         11 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the mouth seal does not include an aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said mouth seal comprises a base body having an inner ring edge portion and an outer ring edge portion coupled together by a joining portion. 
     
     
         13 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the outer ring edge portion extends radially outward beyond the inner ring edge portion. 
     
     
         14 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the ring edge portions is upendable so that it can be brought from a first position providing an enlarged lip receiving area into a holding position in which a reduced gap between the two ring edge portions is formed. 
     
     
         15 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the base body is provided with an inner web adapted to extend to and be anchored behind the user's teeth. 
     
     
         16 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the base body is configured in such a manner that the ring edge portions are adapted and shaped to slightly clamp the lips of the user in an edge portion that is radially further spaced from the mouth opening by an elastic deformation of the base body. 
     
     
         17 . A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system supplying a respiratory gas on a pressure level lying above ambient pressure, comprising:
 a mouth seal formed from an elastomeric material, the mouth seal being a solid member dimensioned to cover a mouth of the patient; and   a lift-off device being structured to deform the mouth seal upon application of tensile forces to the lift-off device to facilitate removal of the mouth seal from the mouth of the user.   
     
     
         18 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the lift-off device comprises a ring clip, a loop or a ring bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the elastomeric material is silicone. 
     
     
         20 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the elastomeric material is a transparent silicone rubber material. 
     
     
         21 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said mouth seal comprises a base body having an inner ring edge portion and an outer ring edge portion coupled together by a joining portion. 
     
     
         22 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the mouth seal does not include an aperture. 
     
     
         23 . A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system supplying a respiratory gas on a pressure level lying above ambient pressure, comprising:
 a mouth seal formed from an elastomeric material, the mouth seal having a an essentially elliptically and concavely bulged lip rest area, the mouth seal being a solid member dimensioned to cover a mouth of the patient in use,   wherein the mouth seal does not include an aperture so as to completely suppress leak through the mouth seal.   
     
     
         24 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the elastomeric material is silicone. 
     
     
         25 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said mouth seal comprises a base body having an inner ring edge portion and an outer ring edge portion coupled together by a joining portion. 
     
     
         26 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the outer ring edge portion extends radially outward beyond the inner ring edge portion. 
     
     
         27 . The mouth seal assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the ring edge portions is upendable so that it can be brought from a first position providing an enlarged lip receiving area into a holding position in which a reduced gap between the two ring edge portions is formed.