Patient interface device with limited support area on the face

1. A patient interface device comprising:

a support member;

a sealing assembly attached to the support member, wherein the sealing assembly is adapted to contact a user and communicate a flow of gas to an airway of said user;

a first contacting member operatively coupled to the support member on a first side of the sealing assembly; and

a second contacting member operatively coupled to the support member on a second side of the sealing assembly opposite the first side, wherein the first contacting member and the second contacting member are each shaped, sized, configured and arranged to contact said user over only a limited contacting region, wherein the limited contacting region is located at a junction of the orbicularis oris facial muscle, the zygomaticus facial muscle, and the risorius facial muscle, and wherein the limited contacting region covers an area approximately 300 mm 2 in size and does not extend beyond the area.

2. The patient interface device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing assembly comprises a pair of prongs, a cushion, or a cushion and a faceplate.

3. The patient interface device of claim 2 , wherein the pair of prongs or cushion are integral with or separable from the support member.

4. The patient interface device of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a conduit member having at least one end adapted to be coupled to a source of the flow of gas.

5. The patient interface device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a headgear assembly operatively coupled to the support member;

an exhaust assembly operatively coupled to the support member; or

both the headgear assembly and the exhaust assembly.

6. The patient interface device of claim 1 , further comprising a support frame operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the first contacting member and the second contacting member are coupled to the support frame.

7. The patient interface device of claim 6 , further comprising a headgear assembly operatively coupled to the support frame.

8. The patient interface device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first contacting member comprises a first support coupled to a first portion of the support member and a first pad coupled to the first support, and

wherein the second contacting member comprises a second support coupled to a second portion of the support member and a second pad coupled to the second support.

9. The patient interface device of claim 8 , wherein the first support is moveable relative to the support member, and wherein the second support is moveable relative to the support member.

10. The patient interface device of claim 1 , wherein the support member and the sealing assembly couple together to define a gas flow path.

11. The patient interface device of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a tubular housing and a bar that extends through at least a portion of the tubular housing, and wherein the first contacting member and the second contacting member are operatively coupled to the tubular housing.

12. The patient interface device of claim 1 , wherein a majority of the limited contacting region is offset from an inner-most edge of an iris of an eye of the user when the eye is facing straight forward and toward a midline of a face of the user.

13. The patient interface device of claim 12 , wherein a majority of the limited contacting region is located below a lowest portion of a nose of the user.

14. A system for delivering a flow of gas to a user, comprising:

(a) a gas flow generating device that produces a flow of gas;

(b) a conduit having a first end portion operatively coupled to the gas flow generating device and a second end portion, wherein the conduit carries the flow of gas from the gas flow generating device during operation of the system; and

(c) a patient interface device comprising:

(a) a support member having at least one end coupled to the conduit,

(c) a sealing assembly attached to the support member,

(b) a first contacting member operatively coupled to the support member on a first side of the sealing assembly, and

(d) a second contacting member operatively coupled to the support member on a second side of the sealing assembly opposite the first side, wherein the first contacting member and the second contacting member are each shaped, sized, configured and arranged to contact said user over only a limited contacting region, wherein the limited contacting region is located at a junction of the orbicularis oris facial muscle, the zygomaticus facial muscle, and the risorius facial muscle, and wherein the limited contacting region covers an area approximately 300 mm 2 in size and does not extend beyond the area.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the sealing assembly comprises a pair of prongs, a cushion, or a cushion and a faceplate.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a headgear assembly operatively coupled to the support member;

an exhaust assembly operatively coupled to the support member; or

both the headgear assembly and the exhaust assembly.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a support frame operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the first contacting member and the second contacting member are coupled to the support frame.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a headgear assembly operatively coupled to the support frame.

19. The system of claim 14 ,

wherein the first contacting member comprises a first support coupled to a first portion of the support member and a first pad coupled to the first support, and

wherein the second contacting member comprises a second support coupled to a second portion of the support member and a second pad coupled to the second support.

20. The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the first support is moveable relative to the support member, and wherein the second support is moveable relative to the support member.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein a majority of the limited contacting region is offset from an inner-most edge of an iris of an eye of the user when the eye is facing straight forward and toward a midline of a face of the user.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein a majority of the limited contacting region is located below a lowest portion of a nose of the user.

23. A patient interface device, comprising:

sealing means for providing a sealed contact with a user so as to communicate a flow of gas to an airway of said user;

supporting means for supporting the sealing means; and

contacting means for supporting the patient interface device on a face of user by contacting said user over only a limited contacting region, wherein the limited contacting region is located at a junction of the orbicularis oris facial muscle, the zygomaticus facial muscle, and the risorius facial muscle, and wherein the limited contacting region covers an area approximately 300 mm 2 in size and does not extend beyond the area.

24. The patient interface device of claim 23 , wherein a majority of the limited contacting region is offset from an inner-most edge of an iris of an eye of the user when the eye is facing straight forward and toward a midline of a face of the user.

25. The patient interface device of claim 24 , wherein a majority of the limited contacting region is located below a lowest portion of a nose of the user.