Hybrid textured/polished respiratory mask seal and respiratory mask using same

1. A respiratory mask facial seal comprising:

a first end portion adapted to be coupled to a mask shell;

a second end portion for sealing engagement with a face of a user, wherein the second end portion has a perimeter adapted to be disposed around an airway opening of a user responsive to the seal being disposed on such a user; and

a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein at least a portion of the second end portion located along at least a portion of the perimeter includes a textured area having a first rms surface roughness that is greater than 700 microinches, and wherein the seal includes a non-textured area having a second rms surface roughness of less than 690 microinches.

2. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the first rms surface roughness is in a range of 750-1,500 microinches.

3. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the second rms surface roughness is in a range of 1-100 microinches.

4. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the textured area is disposed over an entire user-contacting surface at the second end portion of the seal around an entirety of the perimeter.

5. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the textured area is disposed on a first flap operatively connected to the side wall, and further comprising a second flap underlying the first flap.

6. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion is generally triangular-shaped and sized and configured so as to be disposed around an airway of a user responsive to the seal being positioned on such a user, wherein the textured area is provided around an entire perimeter of the user contacting surface of the second end portion of the seal.

7. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion is generally triangular-shaped and sized and configured so as to be disposed around an airway of a user responsive to the seal being positioned on such a user, wherein the textured area is provided on at least an apex portion of the perimeter adapted to be disposed proximate to a bridge of a nose of a user response to the seal being positioned on such a user.

8. A respiratory mask facial seal comprising:

a first end portion adapted to be coupled to a mask shell;

a second end portion for sealing engagement with a face of a user, wherein the second end portion has a perimeter adapted to be disposed around an airway opening of a user responsive to the seal being disposed on such a user, and wherein at least a first portion of the second end portion located along at least a portion of the perimeter includes a first rms surface roughness greater than 700 microinches; and

a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein (a) at least a second portion of the second end portion located along at least a second portion of the perimeter or (b) a first portion of the sidewall includes a second rms surface roughness less than 700 microinches.

9. The seal of claim 8 , wherein the first rms surface roughness is in a range of 700-1,500 microinches.

10. A respiratory mask comprising:

(a) a shell having an first opening adapted to be coupled to a user circuit and a second opening; and

(b) a seal comprising:

(1) a first end portion coupled to the shell,

(2) a second end portion for sealing engagement with a face of a user, wherein the second end portion has a perimeter adapted to be disposed around an airway opening of a user responsive to the seal being disposed on such a user, and

(3) a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein at least a portion of the second end portion located along at least a portion of the perimeter includes a textured area having a first rms surface roughness that is greater than 700 microinches, and wherein the seal includes a non-textured area having a second rms surface roughness of less than 690 microinches.

11. The mask of claim 10 , wherein the first rms surface roughness is in a range of 750-1,500 microinches.

12. The mask of claim 10 , wherein the second rms surface roughness is in a range of 1-100 microinches.

13. The mask of claim 10 , wherein the textured area is disposed over an entire user-contacting surface at the second end portion of the seal around an entirety of the perimeter.

14. The mask of claim 10 , wherein the second end portion is generally triangular-shaped and is sized and configured so as to be disposed around an airway of a user responsive to the mask being positioned on such a user, wherein the textured area is provided around an entire perimeter of the user contacting surface of the second end portion of the seal.

15. The mask of claim 10 , wherein the second end portion is generally triangular-shaped and sized and configured so as to be disposed around an airway of a user responsive to the mask being positioned on such a user, wherein the textured area is provided on at least an apex portion of the perimeter adapted to be disposed proximate to a bridge of a nose of a user response to the mask being positioned on such a user.

16. The mask of claim 10 , further comprising:

a forehead support operatively coupled to the shell; and

a user contacting forehead pad operatively coupled to the shell, wherein at least a portion of the forehead pad includes a second textured area having a third rms surface roughness that is also greater than the second rms surface roughness.

17. The mask of claim 16 , wherein the third rms surface roughness is greater than 700 microinches.

18. The mask of claim 16 , wherein the third rms surface roughness is substantially the same as the first surface roughness.