Abstract: A mask system for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient includes a nares portion and a mouth portion and an inlet conduit connected to at least one of the nares portion and the mouth portion to deliver the pressurized, breathable gas. The mask system is adapted to selectively utilize the nares portion and/or the mouth portion in a first mode utilizing both the nares portion and the mouth portion, and in a second mode utilizing the nares portion and not utilizing the mouth portion.

Abstract: A patient interface assembly includes an elastomeric piece configured to receive a flow of pressurized respiratory gas and sealingly engage the patient's face. The elastomeric piece forms a plenum and includes a mouth sealing portion, a nasal sealing portion, and an anterior surface with an air inlet opening configured to be coupled to a connector and/or an air delivery tube. The patient interface assembly also includes a stiffening structure that is attached to the anterior surface of the elastomeric piece. The stiffening structure comprises a central aperture that is sized so that the air inlet opening and a portion of the anterior surface surrounding the air inlet opening remain exposed through the central aperture. The stiffening structure is configured so that the entirety of the stiffening structure is inferior to the patient's nose in use.

Abstract: A patient interface assembly includes an elastomeric piece configured to receive a flow of pressurized respiratory gas and sealingly engage the patient’s face. The elastomeric piece forms a plenum and includes a mouth sealing portion, a nasal sealing portion, and an anterior surface with an air inlet opening configured to be coupled to a connector and/or an air delivery tube. The patient interface assembly also includes a stiffening structure that is attached to the anterior surface of the elastomeric piece. The stiffening structure comprises a central aperture that is sized so that the air inlet opening and a portion of the anterior surface surrounding the air inlet opening remain exposed through the central aperture. The stiffening structure is configured so that the entirety of the stiffening structure is inferior to the patient’s nose in use.

Abstract: A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient's face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient's cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient's cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

Abstract: A mask system for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient includes a nares portion and a mouth portion and an inlet conduit connected to at least one of the nares portion and the mouth portion to deliver the pressurized, breathable gas. The mask system is adapted to selectively utilize the nares portion and/or the mouth portion in a first mode utilizing both the nares portion and the mouth portion, and in a second mode utilizing the nares portion and not utilizing the mouth portion.

Abstract: A patient interface includes a cushion configured to sealingly engage the patient's face, a support structure configured to support the cushion, the support structure being more rigid than the cushion, a plenum chamber formed at least in part by the cushion, and a connector configured to convey the pressurized respiratory gas to the plenum chamber. The connector includes a first portion formed from a first material and adapted to removably connect to the support structure. A plurality of vent holes are formed on the first portion. The connector also includes a continuous flexible portion that is formed from a second material, is more flexible than the first portion, and is configured to flex to permit engagement and disengagement of the first portion. The continuous flexible portion comprises a pair of opposing release buttons that are configured to be inwardly flexed to allow release of the connector from the support structure.

Abstract: A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient's face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient's cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient's cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

Abstract: A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient's face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient's cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient's cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

Abstract: A patient interface assembly includes a cushion assembly, and air delivery tube, and a connector assembly. The cushion assembly includes a flexible cushion including a base and a pair of nasal pillows that extend from the base and a frame that is more rigid than the flexible cushion. The connector assembly connects the air delivery tube to the cushion assembly and includes and elbow with a second end with a part spherical ball shape and a gas washout vent with a plurality of vent openings. The connector assembly also includes an elbow connector positioned in the frame. The elbow connector forms a part spherical socket shape that engages the part spherical ball shape of the elbow. The elbow connector includes an anchoring flange, which is configured to secure the flexible cushion to the elbow connector by way of the anchoring flange being inserted into the flexible cushion through a central opening in the flexible cushion.

Abstract: A mask cushion or a mask assembly therewith provides a comfortable and effective seal for provision of a gas therapy by a respiratory treatment apparatus. The mask cushion may be integrated with or coupled to a mask frame. The mask cushion typically includes an inner cushion component. The mask cushion also includes a patient facial-contact side portion with a chamber and a barrier to form the chamber that may be flexible. The chamber may serve as an outer layer with respect to the inner cushion component. The chamber may be partially or completely filled with a gas, fluid or gel. The inner cushion may be formed with a soft flexible material such as an elastomer or foam, etc. The barrier may be a membrane and may also be soft flexible material.

Abstract: A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient's face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient's cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient's cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

Abstract: A patient interface assembly includes a flexible cushion with a nares sealing portion configured to sealingly engage the patient's nares and a mouth sealing portion configured to seal around the patient's mouth. A cushion clip is attached to the flexible cushion, forms at least part of a plenum chamber with the flexible cushion, and is more rigid than the flexible cushion. A frame is attached to the cushion clip, is more rigid than the flexible cushion. A superior portion of the frame extends beyond the mouth sealing portion in the superior direction to overlap at least a part of the pair of lateral nares engagement portions of the nares sealing portion. At least a part of the nares sealing portion of the flexible cushion is decoupled from both the cushion clip and the superior portion of the frame that overlaps the nares sealing portion so that the lateral nares engagement portions are movable independently of the frame and the cushion clip.

Abstract: A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient's face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient's cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient's cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

Abstract: A mask cushion or a mask assembly therewith provides a comfortable and effective seal for provision of a gas therapy by a respiratory treatment apparatus. The mask cushion may be integrated with or coupled to a mask frame. The mask cushion typically includes an inner cushion component. The mask cushion also includes a patient facial-contact side portion with a chamber and a barrier to form the chamber that may be flexible. The chamber may serve as an outer layer with respect to the inner cushion component. The chamber may be partially or completely filled with a gas, fluid or gel. The inner cushion may be formed with a soft flexible material such as an elastomer or foam, etc. The barrier may be a membrane and may also be soft flexible material.

Abstract: A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient's face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient's cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient's cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

Abstract: A patient interface assembly includes a flexible cushion with a nares sealing portion configured to sealingly engage the patient's nares and a mouth sealing portion configured to seal around the patient's mouth. A cushion clip is attached to the flexible cushion, forms at least part of a plenum chamber with the flexible cushion, and is more rigid than the flexible cushion. A frame is attached to the cushion clip, is more rigid than the flexible cushion. A superior portion of the frame extends beyond the mouth sealing portion in the superior direction to overlap at least a part of the pair of lateral nares engagement portions of the nares sealing portion. At least a part of the nares sealing portion of the flexible cushion is decoupled from both the cushion clip and the superior portion of the frame that overlaps the nares sealing portion so that the lateral nares engagement portions are movable independently of the frame and the cushion clip.

Abstract: A patient interface assembly includes a cushion assembly, and air delivery tube, and a connector assembly. The cushion assembly includes a flexible cushion including a base and a pair of nasal pillows that extend from the base and a frame that is more rigid than the flexible cushion. The connector assembly connects the air delivery tube to the cushion assembly and includes and elbow with a second end with a part spherical ball shape and a gas washout vent with a plurality of vent openings. The connector assembly also includes an elbow connector positioned in the frame. The elbow connector forms a part spherical socket shape that engages the part spherical ball shape of the elbow. The elbow connector includes an anchoring flange, which is configured to secure the flexible cushion to the elbow connector by way of the anchoring flange being inserted into the flexible cushion through a central opening in the flexible cushion.

Abstract: A patient interface system for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a user includes a patient interface structure configured to sealingly engage the face of the user. The patient interface system further includes an elbow and connector assembly adapted to receive gases from a flow generator and deliver the gases to the patient interface structure. The elbow and connector assembly includes a ring attached to the patient interface, a sleeve, and an elbow. The ring includes an inner flange, an outer flange separated from the inner flange by a channel, and a plurality of vent slots extending through the inner flange, across the channel, and through the outer flange. The sleeve is configured so that inserting the sleeve into the ring forms a plurality of vent paths for the venting of exhalation gases from an interior of the patient interface to an exterior of the patient interface through the vent slots.

Abstract: A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a foam interfacing portion adapted to provide a nasal interface to contact under and around the patient's nose in use and including an orifice adapted to surround both the patient's nares in use, and a positioning and stabilizing structure to support the foam interfacing portion in an operative position on the patient's face. The positioning and stabilizing structure is structured to provide a range of rotational, axial, and/or lateral movement to the foam interfacing portion while maintaining a sufficient interface and resisting the application of tube drag and/or headgear tension to the foam interfacing portion.