Abstract: A cushion is for use in a pressure support system for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient. The cushion includes a body having a first end and a second end located opposite the first end. The body defines a space therein. The cushion further includes a sealing portion defining a single opening into the space. The single opening is adapted to surround both a first nostril and a second nostril of a patient. The sealing portion is located between the first end and the second end. The sealing portion includes a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion each extending outwardly from the body and being adapted to sealingly engage against an interior surface of a corresponding one of the first nostril and the second nostril.

Abstract: A coupling for use in a system (2) for communicating a flow of gas from a pressure generating device (4) to an airway of a patient includes a first portion (16, 16?, 16?) adapted to be coupled in fluid communication with the pressure generating device and a second portion (10) selectively coupled to the first portion. The second portion is adapted to be coupled in fluid communication with the airway of the patient. At least one of the first portion and the second portion includes an illuminated portion (18, 20), the illuminated portion being adapted to be visible to a patient when the first and second portions are uncoupled and adapted to be not visible to a user when the first and second portions are coupled. The illuminated portion assists a user in locating and recoupling the first and second portions of the coupling in a darkened room.

Abstract: A floatable coupling between a patient interface device and a frame body is provided. The floatable coupling includes a number of elastic bands extending between the patient interface device and the frame body. The elastic bands couple the patient interface device and the frame body in a manner that allows the patient interface device to float relative to the frame body.

Abstract: A respiratory interface device is provided. The respiratory interface device includes a cushion structured to be coupled to a faceplate that includes a peripheral end and a coupling assembly. The faceplate peripheral end includes a formable material and a portion of faceplate peripheral end is a customized contoured end. Cushion is coupled to faceplate adjacent faceplate customized contoured end, cushion conforming to faceplate customized contoured end.

Abstract: A customized mask is manufactured by the process of: generating surface geometry data of a face of a patient, the surface geometry data corresponding to and representing a surface geometry of the face of the patient; generating original cushion geometry data using the surface geometry data; generating modified cushion geometry data using the original cushion geometry data; producing a rigid support member using the modified cushion geometry data such that it is shaped according to the modified cushion geometry data, the support member being made of a unitary material; and coupling a sealing flap to the support member, the sealing flap being structured to engage the face of the patient.

Abstract: A customized sealing member is for a customized mask of a pressure support system. The steps to manufacture the customized sealing member include generating surface geometry data of a face of a patient, the surface geometry data corresponding to and representing a surface geometry of the face of the patient; generating customization data using the surface geometry data, the customization data representing how a seal blank should be modified for the patient; and customizing the seal blank using the customization data such that the customized seal blank is shaped according to the customization data.

Abstract: A respiratory interface device (10) is provided that includes a cushion (30) and a faceplate (12). The cushion is structured to be coupled to the faceplate. The faceplate includes a peripheral end (18) and a number of custom features (60). The cushion is coupled to the faceplate adjacent the faceplate peripheral end.

Abstract: A cushion assembly (16) for use in a patient interface device (10) includes a cushion member having a sealing flap (24) adapted to sealing engage a user's face about at least one of an oral orifice or nasal orifices of the user. The cushion member defines a cavity (30) therein accessible via an opening generally defined by the sealing flap. The cushion assembly further includes a stabilizing member (16b) having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end and the second end being selectively coupled to the sealing flap such that the stabilizing member spans across at least a portion of the opening.

Abstract: A sealing device (20) includes a base (22) adapted to attach at any of a plurality of positions on a patient interface device (8), an arm (26) having a first end coupled to the base (22), and an end portion (24) connected to a second end of the base and adapted to apply pressure to an area of a cushion member (12) of the patient interface (8) device when the base is attached at any of the plurality of positions on the patient interface device.

Abstract: An elongated flexible conduit (4) includes an flow element (24) having a first elongated wall segment (32) and a second elongated wall segment (44) that are connected together at their sides to form a wall (28) that is continuous in a circumferential direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation (8). The flow element is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration (68), with the first configuration being an expanded configuration, and with the second configuration being a collapsed configuration. The flow element can be moved from its expanded configuration to its collapsed configuration, such as for purposes of packing during traveling, and can then be moved from its collapsed configuration back to its expanded configuration in any of a variety of fashions in order to return the flow element to a condition in which it can carry a flow of breathing gas from a CPAP machine (12) to a CPAP mask (16).

Abstract: A patient interface device (8) structured to engage a patient's sub-nasal area is provided and includes a body (22), a cushion (50) and a custom cushion support assembly (100). Patient interface device body includes a sidewall (27) with an upper side (32) including a number of passages (40).Cushion includes a resilient body (52). Cushion body is disposed on patient interface device body. Patient interface device cushion body includes an engagement portion (60) structured to engage a patient's sub-nasal area, and a pocket (70) disposed under cushion body engagement portion. Custom cushion support assembly includes a body (102) with an upper surface (104) including a custom contour (110). Custom cushion support assembly body is disposed in patient interface device cushion body pocket. In this configuration, custom contour deforms patient interface device cushion body engagement portion to correspond to patient's sub-nasal area.

Abstract: A support sleeve (120, 120?, 220, 220?, 320, 320?) is structured for use with a patient interface device (8) having a mask and a cushion (100, 200, 300) structured to contact a patient's face, the support sleeve including a mask covering portion (124, 224, 324) structured to surround the mask and a support strap (126, 226, 326) structured to extend across a portion of a face-contacting side of the cushion and connect opposite sides of the mask covering portion. A support sleeve (420) is structured for use with a nasal type patient interface device having a mask and a cushion structured to contact a patient's face, wherein the support sleeve comprises a mask covering portion (424) structured to surround the mask, and a front portion (426) structured to contact the bridge of the patient's nose, wherein the cushion includes an apex structured to contact the bridge of the patient's nose, and wherein the front portion extends below the apex and is structured to be disposed between the nose and the apex.

Abstract: A respiratory interface device, a cushion body and a cushion support assembly is provided. The respiratory interface device cushion body includes a nose bridge engagement portion structured to engage a user's nose bridge, the cushion nose bridge engagement portion movable between an un-deformed first configuration and a deformed second configuration. The cushion support assembly includes a faceplate and a pressure distributing assembly. A faceplate perimeter nose bridge portion defines a recessed tapered contour. A pressure distributing assembly includes a number of pressure distributing members. A pressure distributing member is disposed at the faceplate perimeter nose bridge portion and is structured to move between a first position, wherein the pressure distributing member maintains the cushion in the first cushion configuration, and a second position wherein the pressure distributing member maintains the cushion in the second cushion configuration.

Abstract: A patient interface device (8) includes a cushion assembly (100) that is customizable to compensate for anatomical variances from patient-to-patient and, therefore, provides an effective seal with the patient's face. The cushion assembly includes a cushion member (102) having a first side structured to engage the patient's face, and a second side disposed opposite the first side, a plurality of plate members (108, 110, 112, 114, 116), and an adjustment mechanism (120, 122, 124). The adjustment mechanism is structured to adjust the position of the plate members, thereby changing the shape of the cushion member to generally conform to the patient's face.

Abstract: A respiratory interface device is provided that includes a mask (10) and a brace (40) assembly. The mask has a faceplate (12) and a cushion (15), and the brace assembly has a brace body (42) and a lever assembly (44). The brace body is coupled to the mask faceplate, and the lever assembly has at least one lever arm (70) and at least one actuator assembly (72) for each lever arm. The at least one lever arm has a body (76) and a pivot assembly (90). The lever arm body is pivotally coupled to the brace body at the pivot assembly. The lever arm body is structured to move between two positions, a first position, where the lever arm body does not effectively engage a portion of the mask, and a second position, wherein the lever arm body effectively engages a portion of the mask.

Abstract: A minimal weight patient interface device that delivers breathing gas to a user includes a cushion assembling including a support cushion assembly and a sealing member is described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, the support cushion assembly includes a wedge that is made of a high density foam received within a wedge receiving portion of the support cushion assembly. In the exemplary embodiment, the cushion assembly is formed by the sealing member fitting over the support cushion assembly. The sealing member, in one embodiment, is made of silicone, for example, having a low durometer value (e.g., between 5-10 Shore 00). Furthermore, in one embodiment, the patient interface device also includes a faceplate that is placed over the cushion assembly and is made of a thermoform, such as a high density foam laminated between two pieces of fabric, such as polyester.

Abstract: An interface device comprises a cushion and a shell coupled thereto which together define an interior space with the face of a user. The shell includes an inlet port structured to have a conduit carrying a flow of treatment gas to the interior space selectively coupled thereto and a first aperture structured to allow the passage of ambient air into the interior space. A first sealing member is operatively coupled to the shell and is positioned such that the first sealing member is movable between a first state in which the first sealing member substantially seals the first aperture, and a second state wherein the sealing member does not substantially seal the first aperture. The first sealing member moves between the first state and the second state responsive to breathing of the patient.

Abstract: A wearable device (8,60,70,86) structured to exert a contact pressure between the wearable device and a skin surface of a wearer, such as a patient interface device for delivering a flow of breathing gas to a patient, includes a first member (18,72,96), such as a faceplate member, structured to have a first pressure applied thereto, a contact member (14,74), such as a sealing cushion, structured to exert the contact pressure against the skin surface in response to the first pressure, and a support member (20,62,78) positioned between the first member and the contact member, the support member including a plurality of compression members (40,52,54,64,84), wherein each of the compression members is structured to buckle in response to a compression force having at least a first predetermined level being applied to the support member.

Abstract: A cushion support assembly for a respiratory interface device cushion is provided. The cushion support assembly includes a cushion support assembly ribbon-like body with an inner side, an outer side and a wide facial side. The cushion support assembly body facial side includes a support surface, the support surface is structured to support the respiratory interface device cushion engagement portion in a generally planar configuration. The cushion support assembly body facial side support surface is generally planar relative to the user's respiratory interface device contour radial aspect.

Abstract: An interconnect assembly (100, 300, 400) is for a support assembly (2) that includes a retention member (4) and a strap member (6). The interconnect assembly includes a number of female interconnect members (110, 210, 310, 410) with a first body member (112, 212, 312) and a first magnet (116, 216, 316, 416) coupled to the first body member. The first body member is connected to the retention member and has an aperture (114, 214, 314, 414). The interconnect assembly also includes a number of male interconnect members (150, 250, 350, 450) with a second body member (152, 252, 352) and a second magnet (160, 260, 360, 460) coupled to the second body member. The second body member is connected to the strap member and includes a protrusion (154, 254, 354, 452, 454) structured to be located within the aperture. When the protrusion is located within the aperture, the first magnet is attracted to the second magnet, thereby removably connecting the first body member to the second body member.