Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus that includes a mask is provided, the mask including one or more fixation anchoring devices, each configured to anchor to an at least one body part within a user, wherein the at least one body part includes at least a portion of one or more of an oral, nasal, pharyngeal, and a respiratory airway; one or more skin covers, each capable of covering at least a portion of the user's face, wherein one or more of the fixation anchoring devices are connected to one or more skin covers; one or more conduits, each connected to at least a portion of one of the skin covers, wherein one or more of a gas, solid, liquid, and gel are transmitted through each of the conduits; and one or more sealing pads, each connected to at least one of one of the skin coverings and one of the fixation anchoring devices.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a mask, comprising:   one or more fixation anchoring devices, each configured to anchor to an at least one body part within a living user, wherein the at least one body part comprises at least a portion of one or more of an oral, nasal, pharyngeal, and a respiratory airway;
 one or more skin covers, each capable of covering at least a portion of the user's face, wherein one or more of the fixation anchoring devices are connected to one or more skin covers; 
 one or more conduits, each connected to at least a portion of one of the skin covers, wherein one or more of a gas, solid, liquid, and gel are transmitted through each of the conduits; and 
 one or more sealing pads, each connected to at least one of one of the skin coverings and one of the fixation anchoring devices. 
   
     
     
         2 . apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fixation anchoring devices conform to one or more of a tooth, gum, tongue, and respiratory airway of the user. 
     
     
         3 . apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the fixation anchoring devices comprise one or more of a metal band, wire, brace, plastic, rubber, rubber-band, a denture, a mouth guard, a mouth appliance, and a molded structure. 
     
     
         4 . apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of one or more of the skin covers is airtight and watertight and a different portion of each of the one or more skin covers is air permeable and water permeable. 
     
     
         5 . apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the skin covers comprise an airtight and a watertight portion. 
     
     
         6 . apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the skin covers comprise a portion that is permeable. 
     
     
         7 . apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one or more the skin covers is low-profile and conforms to a shape of at least a portion of one or more of the face, the oral, the nasal, and the pharyngeal structures of the user. 
     
     
         8 . apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the skin covers comprise a gel. 
     
     
         9 . apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more valve that provides a different resistance to an inflow of the gas than to an outflow of the gas.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more reservoir that provides a different resistance to an inflow of the gas than to an outflow of the gas.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein ventilation is performed through one or more of the conduits via one or more of inflow, outflow, and inflow and outflow of the gas. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein one or more of the conduits comprise one or more valves. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein one or more of the conduits comprise one or more reservoirs. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein, during the ventilation, a pressure within one or more of the conduits is one or more of a positive pressure, a negative pressure, and an ambient pressure, and wherein the pressure within the one or more conduits is one or more of a variable pressure, a continuous pressure, and a non-continuous pressure. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mask is one or more of a CPAP mask and a BIPAP mask. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more sealing pads connected to one or more of the skin covers and adapted to form a seal with a surface of one or more of the user's skin and mucosa of one or more of the user's oral surface, nasal surface, pharyngeal surface, respiratory surface, face, oral cavity, nasal cavity, pharyngeal cavity, and respiratory cavity.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more sealing pads comprise one or more of a flange, a gel, and an expandable chamber, and wherein the flange, the gel, and the expandable chamber are adapted to conform to one or more of the user's skin and mucosa of one or more of the user's oral surfaces, nasal surfaces, pharyngeal surface, respiratory surface, face, oral cavity, nasal cavity, pharyngeal cavity, and respiratory cavity. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more of a sensor and an indicator configured to monitor one or more characteristics of at least one of the user and the mask, wherein the transmission of one or more of the gas, solid, liquid and gel through the one or more conduits is controlled based on the one or more characteristics.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more of a sensor and an indicator configured to monitor one or more characteristics, wherein one or more of the function and structure of the mask is controlled based on the one or more monitored characteristics.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 one or more of the sensor and the indicator further configured to one or more of measure, manage, adjust, regulate, and assess a breathing apparatus associated with the mask, the breathing apparatus comprising one or more of a ventilator, CPAP device, and anesthesia device.