Cushion for a respiratory mask assembly
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame and a cushion. The cushion has a non-face contacting portion structured to be connected to the frame, a face-contacting portion structured to engage the patient's face, and an intermediate portion that interconnects the non-face contacting portion and the face-contacting portion. The intermediate portion includes a gusset portion that applies a first component of force to the patient's face through the face-contacting portion. A spring structure is coupled with the face-contacting portion of the cushion. The spring structure applies a second component of force to the patient's face through the face-contacting portion. The first and second components of force applied by the gusset portion and spring structure, respectively, determine a contact force of the cushion applied to the patient's face through the face-contacting portion. The intermediate portion may also include an elastic cuff portion. Further, in the case of an oral mask, the sealing section may include a portion that is designed to promote a better seal in the chin region of the mask.
1. A respiratory mask assembly, comprising:
a frame; and
a cushion provided to the frame, the cushion including:
a non-face contacting portion provided to the frame;
a face-contacting portion adapted to engage a patient's face;
a gusset portion between the non-face contacting portion and the face-contacting portion, the gusset portion including a fold configured to expand and contract to allow relative movement between the non-face contacting portion and the face-contacting portion; and
a stop structure configured and arranged to travel relative to the non-face contacting portion during expansion and contraction of the fold in use,
wherein the stop structure is configured and arranged to abut an opposing surface of the cushion to provide a stop to contraction of the fold when a range of contraction provided by the fold has reached a predetermined limit in use.
2. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion forms at least a portion of a breathing chamber, and the stop structure is arranged along an internal surface of the cushion within the breathing chamber.
3. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the stop structure is provided to a side wall of the fold.
4. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the stop structure comprises a thickened portion of a side wall of the cushion.
5. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the face-contacting portion, the gusset portion, and the stop structure comprise silicone.
6. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the non-face contacting portion, the face-contacting portion, the gusset portion, and the stop structure comprise silicone.
7. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the stop structure is arranged to vary a stiffness of a side wall of the cushion.
8. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the stop structure is arranged to vary stiffness in different regions of the cushion.
9. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the stop structure is arranged to vary stiffness in different regions of the gusset portion.
10. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the gusset portion extends outwardly from the non-face contacting portion.
11. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the gusset portion interconnects the non-face contacting portion and the face-contacting portion.
12. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the non-face contacting portion is removably connectable to the frame.
13. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the non-face contacting portion is removably connectable to the frame with a cushion clip.
14. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion comprises an integrally formed, one piece construction.
15. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a forehead support provided to an upper portion of the frame.
16. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 15 , further comprising headgear including upper straps removably connected to the forehead support and lower straps removably connected to clip structures provided to the frame.
17. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a swivel elbow assembly provided to a front portion of the frame.
18. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the gusset portion extends around a portion of a perimeter of the cushion.
19. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a clip structure detachably engageable with the frame such that the non-face contacting portion is positioned between the clip structure and the frame to attach the cushion to the frame.
20. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the respiratory mask assembly is a nasal and mouth mask assembly.
21. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the respiratory mask assembly is a nasal mask assembly.
22. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cushion forms at least a portion of a breathing chamber, and the stop structure is arranged along an internal surface of the cushion within the breathing chamber,
wherein the stop structure comprises a thickened portion of a side wall of the cushion,
wherein the face-contacting portion, the gusset portion, and the stop structure comprise silicone,
wherein the gusset portion extends outwardly from the non-face contacting portion, and
wherein the gusset portion extends around a portion of a perimeter of the cushion.
23. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 22 , further comprising a forehead support provided to an upper portion of the frame,
further comprising headgear including upper straps removably connected to the forehead support and lower straps removably connected to clip structures provided to the frame,
further comprising a swivel elbow assembly provided to a front portion of the frame, and
further comprising a clip structure detachably engageable with the frame such that the non-face contacting portion is positioned between the clip structure and the frame to attach the cushion to the frame.
24. A respiratory mask assembly, comprising:
a frame; and
a cushion provided to the frame, the cushion including:
a non-face contacting portion provided to the frame;
a face-contacting portion adapted to engage a patient's face;
a gusset portion between the non-face contacting portion and the face-contacting portion, the gusset portion including a fold configured to expand and contract to allow relative movement between the non-face contacting portion and the face-contacting portion; and
a stop structure configured and arranged to travel relative to the non-face contacting portion during expansion and contraction of the fold in use,
wherein the stop structure is configured and arranged to abut an opposing surface of the cushion to provide a stop to contraction of the fold when a range of contraction provided by the fold has reached a predetermined limit in use,
wherein the cushion forms at least a portion of a breathing chamber, and the stop structure is arranged along an internal surface of the cushion within the breathing chamber,
wherein the stop structure comprises a thickened portion of a side wall of the cushion,
wherein the face-contacting portion, the gusset portion, and the stop structure comprise silicone, and
wherein the fold extends outwardly from the non-face contacting portion.
25. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the stop structure is arranged to vary stiffness in different regions of the gusset portion.
26. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the cushion comprises an integrally formed, one piece construction.
27. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the gusset portion extends around a portion of a perimeter of the cushion.
28. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 24 , further comprising a clip structure detachably engageable with the frame such that the non-face contacting portion is positioned between the clip structure and the frame to attach the cushion to the frame.
29. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the face-contacting portion includes a side wall and sealing membrane extending from the side wall, the sealing membrane providing a rolled over section adapted to form a seal with the patient's face.
30. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 29 , wherein the gusset portion includes a first side wall extending from the side wall of the face-contacting portion, a second side wall extending from the non-face contacting portion, and an arcuate wall that interconnects the first and second side walls.
31. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the fold extends radially outwardly beyond the non-face contacting portion.