HEADGEAR
A mask assembly suitable for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing, comprising: a mask to provide pressurized air to a patient; upper and lower slot features located on each side of the mask; a headgear assembly, comprising: a back portion; a pair of upper straps provided to the back portion, each upper strap having a loop portion and a hook portion at a free end thereof for releasably attaching to the loop portion; a pair of lower straps extending away from the back portion, each lower strap having a loop portion and a hook portion at a free end thereof for releasably attaching to the loop portion; and a connection region of each loop portion of each strap, the connection region being adapted to receive a respective hook portion, the connection region being wider than each respective hook portion along each respective hook portion's entire length.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A mask assembly suitable for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing, comprising:
a mask configured to provide pressurized air to a patient in the range of 3 to 20 cmH2O throughout the patient's respiratory cycle; and
a headgear assembly configured to hold the mask in position on the patient's face during treatment, the headgear assembly comprising:
a back portion comprising a bottom portion;
a pair of elongated lower straps connected to the back portion and configured to extend below the patient's ears and across the patient's facial skin in use; and
a transition between the bottom portion and the pair of elongated lower straps, the transition being angled downwardly relative to the bottom portion such that a lower edge of at least a portion of each of the pair of elongated lower straps is positioned lower on the patient's head than a lower edge of the bottom portion in use.
22 . The mask assembly of claim 21 , wherein:
the mask further comprises a soft, face-contacting portion, a rigid shell, a pair of upper headgear attachment points, and a pair of lower headgear attachment points,
the back portion further comprises a top portion and a pair of side portions connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, and
the headgear assembly further comprises an opening defined by the top portion, the bottom portion, and the pair of side portions and a pair of elongated upper straps connected to the back portion and configured to extend above the patient's ears in use.
23 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of an anisotropic, composite material having different extensibilities in different directions.
24 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein a length of a generally inextensible material is attached to at least a portion of the headgear assembly to reduce extensibility of the headgear assembly.
25 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein stitching is added to at least a portion of the headgear assembly to stiffen the headgear assembly.
26 . The mask assembly of claim 25 , wherein the stitching is added as lines, in a crisscross pattern, or both the lines and the crisscross pattern.
27 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps include a loop material positioned along an external surface thereof and a hook material configured to releasably attach to the loop material to attach the pair of elongated upper straps and the pair of elongated lower straps to the mask, and
wherein the loop material of each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps includes a connection region adapted to attach to the hook material of a corresponding strap, the connection region being wider than the hook material such that when the hook material is attached to the loop material, in use, the loop material at each connection region is configured to shield the patient's facial skin from contact with the hook material.
28 . The mask assembly of claim 27 , wherein a leading end of each of the pair of elongated upper straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of upper headgear attachment points and be doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask, and
wherein the loop material of each of the pair of elongated lower straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of lower headgear attachment points and doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask.
29 . The mask assembly of claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of a composite having a first layer to be positioned against the patient's head, a second, middle layer constructed from foam, and a third layer including the loop material.
30 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , further comprising vent holes adapted to vent exhaled air from the mask.
31 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , further comprising an elbow connected to the mask, the elbow adapted to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of the mask.
32 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein the mask is a full face mask.
33 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein the mask is a nasal mask.
34 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein the opening is arranged to receive the occiput of the patient's head.
35 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein the mask further comprises a forehead support, and
wherein the pair of elongated upper straps are configured to pass from the patient's forehead region to the back of the patient's head.
36 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein:
a length of a generally inextensible material is attached to at least a portion of the headgear assembly to reduce extensibility of the headgear assembly,
stitching is added to at least a portion of the headgear assembly to stiffen the headgear assembly,
the stitching is added as lines, in a crisscross pattern, or both the lines and the crisscross pattern,
each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps include a loop material positioned along an external surface thereof and a hook material configured to releasably attach to the loop material to attach the pair of elongated upper straps and the pair of elongated lower straps to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps includes a connection region adapted to attach to the hook material of a corresponding strap, the connection region being wider than the hook material such that when the hook material is attached to the loop material, in use, the loop material at each connection region is configured to shield the patient's facial skin from contact with the hook material,
a leading end of each of the pair of elongated upper straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of upper headgear attachment points and be doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated lower straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of lower headgear attachment points and doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of a composite having a first layer to be positioned against the patient's head, a second, middle layer constructed from foam, and a third layer including the loop material,
the mask assembly further comprises vent holes adapted to vent exhaled air from the mask,
the mask assembly further comprises an elbow connected to the mask, the elbow adapted to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of the mask,
the mask is a full face mask,
the opening is arranged to receive the occiput of the patient's head,
the mask further comprises a forehead support, and
the pair of elongated upper straps are configured to pass from the patient's forehead region to the back of the patient's head.
37 . The mask assembly of claim 36 , wherein at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of an anisotropic, composite material having different extensibilities in different directions.
38 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein:
a length of a generally inextensible material is attached to at least a portion of the headgear assembly to reduce extensibility of the headgear assembly,
each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps include a loop material positioned along an external surface thereof and a hook material configured to releasably attach to the loop material to attach the pair of elongated upper straps and the pair of elongated lower straps to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps includes a connection region adapted to attach to the hook material of a corresponding strap, the connection region being wider than the hook material such that when the hook material is attached to the loop material, in use, the loop material at each connection region is configured to shield the patient's facial skin from contact with the hook material,
a leading end of each of the pair of elongated upper straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of upper headgear attachment points and be doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated lower straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of lower headgear attachment points and doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of a composite having a first layer to be positioned against the patient's head, a second, middle layer constructed from foam, and a third layer including the loop material,
the mask assembly further comprises vent holes adapted to vent exhaled air from the mask,
the mask assembly further comprises an elbow connected to the mask, the elbow adapted to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of the mask,
the mask is a nasal mask,
the opening is arranged to receive the occiput of the patient's head,
the mask further comprises a forehead support, and
the pair of elongated upper straps are configured to pass from the patient's forehead region to the back of the patient's head.
39 . The mask assembly of claim 38 , wherein at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of an anisotropic, composite material having different extensibilities in different directions.
40 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein:
each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps include a loop material positioned along an external surface thereof and a hook material configured to releasably attach to the loop material to attach the pair of elongated upper straps and the pair of elongated lower straps to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps includes a connection region adapted to attach to the hook material of a corresponding strap, the connection region being wider than the hook material such that when the hook material is attached to the loop material, in use, the loop material at each connection region is configured to shield the patient's facial skin from contact with the hook material,
a leading end of each of the pair of elongated upper straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of upper headgear attachment points and be doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated lower straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of lower headgear attachment points and doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of a composite having a first layer to be positioned against the patient's head, a second, middle layer constructed from foam, and a third layer including the loop material,
the mask assembly further comprises vent holes adapted to vent exhaled air from the mask,
the mask assembly further comprises an elbow connected to the mask, the elbow adapted to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of the mask,
the mask is a nasal mask,
the opening is arranged to receive the occiput of the patient's head,
the mask further comprises a forehead support, and
the pair of elongated upper straps are configured to pass from the patient's forehead region to the back of the patient's head.
41 . The mask assembly of claim 40 , wherein at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of an anisotropic, composite material having different extensibilities in different directions.
42 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein:
stitching is added to at least a portion of the headgear assembly to stiffen the headgear assembly,
the stitching is added as lines, in a crisscross pattern, or both the lines and the crisscross pattern,
each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps include a loop material positioned along an external surface thereof and a hook material configured to releasably attach to the loop material to attach the pair of elongated upper straps and the pair of elongated lower straps to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps includes a connection region adapted to attach to the hook material of a corresponding strap, the connection region being wider than the hook material such that when the hook material is attached to the loop material, in use, the loop material at each connection region is configured to shield the patient's facial skin from contact with the hook material,
a leading end of each of the pair of elongated upper straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of upper headgear attachment points and be doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated lower straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of lower headgear attachment points and doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of a composite having a first layer to be positioned against the patient's head, a second, middle layer constructed from foam, and a third layer including the loop material,
the mask assembly further comprises vent holes adapted to vent exhaled air from the mask,
the mask assembly further comprises an elbow connected to the mask, the elbow adapted to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of the mask,
the mask is a full face mask, and
the opening is arranged to receive the occiput of the patient's head.
43 . The mask assembly of claim 42 , wherein at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of an anisotropic, composite material having different extensibilities in different directions.
44 . The mask assembly of claim 22 , wherein:
stitching is added to at least a portion of the headgear assembly to stiffen the headgear assembly,
the stitching is added as lines, in a crisscross pattern, or both the lines and the crisscross pattern,
each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps include a loop material positioned along an external surface thereof and a hook material configured to releasably attach to the loop material to attach the pair of elongated upper straps and the pair of elongated lower straps to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated upper straps and each of the pair of elongated lower straps includes a connection region adapted to attach to the hook material of a corresponding strap, the connection region being wider than the hook material such that when the hook material is attached to the loop material, in use, the loop material at each connection region is configured to shield the patient's facial skin from contact with the hook material,
a leading end of each of the pair of elongated upper straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of upper headgear attachment points and be doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
the loop material of each of the pair of elongated lower straps is configured to pass through a corresponding one of the pair of lower headgear attachment points and doubled-back on itself to attach the hook material to the loop material to secure the headgear assembly to the mask,
at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of a composite having a first layer to be positioned against the patient's head, a second, middle layer constructed from foam, and a third layer including the loop material,
the mask assembly further comprises vent holes adapted to vent exhaled air from the mask,
the mask assembly further comprises an elbow connected to the mask, the elbow adapted to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of the mask,
the mask is a nasal mask, and
the opening is arranged to receive the occiput of the patient's head.
45 . The mask assembly of claim 44 , wherein at least a portion of the headgear assembly is constructed of an anisotropic, composite material having different extensibilities in different directions.