Abstract: Patient interface components and/or associated head gear and adjustment systems improve sealing and/or patient comfort and/or ease of use. The interface comprising an inflating or ballooning seal. The headgear assembly can be connected to the interface with an elastic component and an inelastic component. The elastic component enabling a course fitting of the interface to the patient and the inelastic component enabling a final fitting of the interface to the patient.

Abstract: A mask assembly for use as part of an apparatus for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user is disclosed. The mask assembly includes a mask body having an inlet through which said flow of respiratory gases are provided to the interior of said mask body. A mask seal assembly comprising a seal of flexible material and a clip of rigid material is attached to the body. The seal has a first side and a second side. The first side of the seal is shaped to approximately match the contours of a user's face and in use substantially seal against a user's face. The second side is attached to the clip. The clip provides an interface extending substantially the full perimeter or periphery of the mask seal assembly for releasably attaching the mask seal assembly to the mask body. The clip comprises a bridging portion spanning outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body to space at least a portion of the second side of the seal outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body.

Abstract: An interface for positive pressure respiratory therapy includes a mask assembly having a mask seal and a mask shell. The mask assembly is positioned lower than and exposes a bridge of the user's nose. The mask seal includes first and second portions on respective first and second sides of a nasal region that contact opposing sides of the user's nose. The first and second portions each include supports that help maintain a shape of the mask seal. A pair of covers can be supported relative to the mask assembly and adjacent a respective one of the first and second portions of the mask seal. The covers limit expansion of the first and second portions of the mask seal in response to pressurized air within the mask seal. The supports of the first and second portions can transfer load from the mask seal to the covers.

Abstract: An interface for positive pressure therapy includes a mask assembly. The mask assembly includes a mask seal that is adapted to underlie the nose. The mask seal extends up the lateral sides of the nose. The mask seal has a primary seal below the nose and a secondary seal alongside the nose. The mask seal includes a rolling hinge that permits one portion of the mask seal to deform relative to another portion of the mask seal. In one configuration, the portion of the mask seal that underlies the nose is configured to deform relative to a lower portion of the mask seal.

Abstract: An interface for positive pressure therapy includes a mask assembly, a headgear assembly and a connection port assembly. The mask assembly comprises a seal member that has an upper portion movably connected to an integrated lower portion, wherein the upper portion rolls during hinging movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion. The headgear assembly allows connection to the mask assembly in a direction substantially normal to a direction of strap tension. The connection port assembly includes a swivel elbow with a valve member that controls flow through a port that opens toward the user.

Abstract: An interface assembly includes an interface, such as a mask, that is secured to a head using a headgear assembly. The headgear assembly can include at least one halo portion and a plurality of straps. The headgear assembly can include both a front halo portion and a rear halo portion. In some arrangements, the headgear and mask define an adjustable closed loop. In some arrangements, the headgear can include one or more rigid portions that contact the user's face to at least partially isolate a seal of the mask from tightening forces applied to the headgear. In some arrangements, the mask is an oral-nasal mask and the headgear applies a force to the mask comprising an upward force component. In some arrangements, the headgear can be contoured to the user's head.

Abstract: Patient interface components and/or associated head gear and adjustment systems improve sealing and/or patient comfort and/or ease of use. The interface comprising an inflating or ballooning seal. The headgear assembly can be connected to the interface with an elastic component and an inelastic component. The elastic component enabling a course fitting of the interface to the patient and the inelastic component enabling a final fitting of the interface to the patient.

Abstract: A patient interface, including a mask assembly and a headgear assembly, provides improved facial sealing and improved ease of use. The mask assembly includes an inflating or ballooning seal. The seal can be secured between two portions of a snap-fit exoskeleton. The headgear assembly connects to the mask assembly with flexible straps during course fitting and with more rigid straps following course fitting. The straps include holes that fit over a tapering post on the mask assembly.

Abstract: An interface for positive pressure therapy includes a mask assembly. The mask assembly includes a mask seal that is adapted to underlie the nose. The mask seal extends up the lateral sides of the nose. The mask seal has a primary seal below the nose and a secondary seal alongside the nose. The mask seal includes a rolling hinge that permits one portion of the mask seal to deform relative to another portion of the mask seal. In one configuration, the portion of the mask seal that underlies the nose is configured to deform relative to a lower portion of the mask seal.

Abstract: A patient interface is provided for use with a respiratory support apparatus, and comprises: a. a cushion at least partially defining an internal cavity, the cushion comprising a pair of opposing cushion side walls and a sealing flange arranged to seal against the face of the patient; b. a gases inlet in fluid communication with the internal cavity; c. a tether; wherein the tether extends substantially laterally across the cushion inside the internal cavity between the pair of opposing cushion side walls, the tether being mounted to the cushion side walls. The tether is configured to allow the cushion to compress when subject to lateral forces, for example when a patient is side sleeping. The tether is configured to resist laterally outward deformation of the cushion.

Abstract: A mask assembly for use as part of an apparatus for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user is disclosed. The mask assembly includes a mask body having an inlet through which said flow of respiratory gases are provided to the interior of said mask body. A mask seal assembly comprising a seal of flexible material and a clip of rigid material is attached to the body. The seal has a first side and a second side. The first side of the seal is shaped to approximately match the contours of a user's face and in use substantially seal against a user's face. The second side is attached to the clip. The clip provides an interface extending substantially the full perimeter or periphery of the mask seal assembly for releasably attaching the mask seal assembly to the mask body. The clip comprises a bridging portion spanning outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body to space at least a portion of the second side of the seal outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body.

Abstract: A respiratory mask includes a frame and a cushion module. The frame can include a front wall having a vent and/or a gas inlet opening and a collar extending away from the front wall. The collar surrounds the vent and/or the gas inlet opening. The cushion module comprises a cushion and a housing, which is made of a material more rigid than the cushion. The housing defines a connection opening. A friction coupling selectively couples the cushion module to the frame and comprises an elastomeric friction member coupled to a portion of the housing that defines the connection opening. In some arrangements, an outer surface of the friction member is exposed when the cushion module is coupled to the frame. In some arrangements, the housing extends through the peripheral surface.

Abstract: An interface for positive pressure respiratory therapy includes a mask assembly having a mask seal and a mask shell. The mask assembly is positioned lower than and exposes a bridge of the user's nose. The mask seal includes first and second portions on respective first and second sides of a nasal region that contact opposing sides of the user's nose. The first and second portions each include supports that help maintain a shape of the mask seal. A pair of covers can be supported relative to the mask assembly and adjacent a respective one of the first and second portions of the mask seal. The covers limit expansion of the first and second portions of the mask seal in response to pressurized air within the mask seal. The supports of the first and second portions can transfer load from the mask seal to the covers.

Abstract: An interface for positive pressure therapy includes a mask assembly and a headgear assembly. The mask assembly comprises a mask seal that is adapted to underlie the nose. The mask seal extends up the lateral sides of the nose. The mask seal has a primary seal below the nose and a secondary seal alongside the nose.

Abstract: A patient interface can have features improving the comfort of use by reducing the perceived pressure of a nose-contacting cushion of the patient interface against the nose. The patient interface can have rigid headgear connection elements connectable to a frame of the respiratory interface. The rigid headgear connection elements can be shaped to reduce the force of the cushion against the nose. Headgear for a patient interface can also have features improving the stability of headgear of the head. The headgear can have a relatively rigid framework and a relatively pliable overlay covering the framework. The framework can have apertures defining a front portion to be positioned below or near the cheekbones, a rear portion to be positioned over the sides of the head around the ears, and a top portion to extend upward along the head towards the crown.

Abstract: A mask assembly can include a mask seal. In some configurations, the mask assembly can be configured to be fully positioned lower than a bridge of a nose of a face of a user and to provide an exposed bridge of the nose of the user. The mask seal can comprise a nasal region comprising at least one nasal opening, a first paddle on a first side of the nasal region and a second paddle on a second side of the nasal region. The first paddle is configured to contact one side of the nose of the user and the second paddle is configured to contact the other side of the nose of the user.

Abstract: A mask assembly or interface with a mask assembly includes a mask seal and a mask shell that supports the mask seal. In some configurations, the mask assembly is configured to be fully positioned lower than a bridge of a nose of a face of a user and to provide an exposed bridge of the nose of the user. The mask seal includes one or more features that decouple movement of the nasal portion and the oral portion to allow relative movement therebetween at least about a longitudinal axis extending in the front to back direction of the mask seal. In some configurations, an interface assembly includes a movement limiting arrangement that limits movement of the upper portion of the mask seal.

Abstract: A mask assembly for use as part of an apparatus for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user is disclosed. The mask assembly includes a mask body having an inlet through which said flow of respiratory gases are provided to the interior of said mask body. A mask seal assembly comprising a seal of flexible material and a clip of rigid material is attached to the body. The seal has a first side and a second side. The first side of the seal is shaped to approximately match the contours of a user's face and in use substantially seal against a user's face. The second side is attached to the clip. The clip provides an interface extending substantially the full perimeter or periphery of the mask seal assembly for releasably attaching the mask seal assembly to the mask body. The clip comprises a bridging portion spanning outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body to space at least a portion of the second side of the seal outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body.

Abstract: An interface for positive pressure therapy includes a mask assembly and a headgear assembly. The mask assembly comprises a mask seal that is adapted to underlie the nose. The mask seal extends up the lateral sides of the nose. The mask seal has a primary seal below the nose and a secondary seal alongside the nose.