INTERFACE DEVICE FORMABLE BY ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESS
FIG5 is a side view, partially in section, of an interface device in accordance with a fourth embodiment
An interface device 304 in accordance with a fourth embodiment, falling within the scope of the present invention is depicted generally in FIG5. Interface device 304 is similar to interface device 4 in that it includes a support 324, a deformable portion 328, and an interface portion 332 that are configured in a fashion similar to that of interface device 4. It is noted, however, that while deformable portion 328 includes a plurality of deformable elements 336 that are mutually interconnected and form a lattice structure that is connected between a base 340 of support 324 and a wall 348 of interface portion 332, interface portion 332 additionally includes a barrier apparatus 356 having a barrier 360 that is connected with deformable elements 336. In so doing, barrier 360 is formed by providing material within the interstices between some of the plurality of deformable element 336 in such a fashion that barrier 360 is formed at the high pressure side of deformable portion 328, which is at the inboard side of deformable portion 328. Barrier 360 thus resists the flow of breathing gas from flowing from the high pressure side of interface device 304 into the interstices between the plurality of deformable elements 336. In so doing, barrier 360 will deform together with the plurality of deformable elements 336, and thus the effect of barrier 360 on the deformation of the individual deformable elements 336 with which barrier 360 is connected, and vice-versa, must be considered in designing the overall deformation characteristics of interface device 304. In the embodiment depicted generally in FIG5, barrier 360 extends along the entirety of the exterior of deformable portion 328 and thus can be said to serve as a membrane that encapsulates deformable elements 336 therein. Alternatively, and in other embodiments, barrier 360 may extend along less than the entirety of the exterior of deformable portion 328 to thereby only partially encapsulate deformable portion 328 therein. Other variations and advantages will be apparent.
side view
304
interface device
348
wall
328
deformable portion
204
interface device
232
interface portion
228
deformable portion
4
interface device
324
support
332
interface portion
356
barrier apparatus
360
barrier
256
barrier apparatus
240
base
248
wall
340
base
336
deformable elements deformable element
224
support
['1. An interface device (304) structured to be connected in fluid communication with a source of pressurized breathing gas and to provide a flow of pressurized breathing gas to the airways of a patient (12), the interface device comprising: a support (324); a deformable portion (328) situated on the support, the deformable portion having at least one high pressure side situated in a high pressure side of the interface device configured, in use, to be in contact with the flow of pressurized breathing gas; and an interface portion (332) situated on the deformable portion and being structured to be engaged with the patient in the vicinity of the airways, the deformable portion comprising a plurality of deformable elements (336) that form a lattice structure and that are connected with the support at a plurality of spaced apart points of connection on the support, the deformable portion further comprising a plurality of interstices situated between the plurality of deformable elements; wherein at least some of the deformable elements of the plurality of deformable elements are mutually interconnected with one another; wherein the interface portion comprises a wall (348), the plurality of deformable elements being connected with the wall at a plurality of spaced apart additional points of connection on the wall; wherein the interface portion further comprises a barrier apparatus (356) that includes a barrier (360) that extends between the support and the wall and that is formed by providing material within the interstices between some of the plurality of deformable elements at the at least one high pressure side of the deformable portion and is thus structured to resist the flow of pressurized breathing gas from flowing into contact with the plurality of deformable elements and to resist the flow of pressurized breathing gas  from flowing into the interstices between the plurality of deformable elements; and wherein the barrier extends along the entirety of the exterior of the deformable portion and thus serves as a membrane that encapsulates the plurality of deformable elements and the plurality of interstices.', '6. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the support includes a base (240) and at least a first platform (242A, 242B), a portion of the plurality of deformable elements being situated between the base and the at least first platform, another portion of  the plurality of deformable element being situated between the at least first platform and the wall.']