Interchangeable mask assembly
A system of breathing arrangements for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes at least first and second cushion components, e.g., full-face, nasal, nasal prongs, nose tip, and/or a combination of any of the above, including a nasal or full-face cushion and nasal prongs/nozzles combination, etc., that are different from one another in at least one aspect, and a common frame assembly configured to support each of the first and second cushion components. Various embodiments are directed to a full-face or nasal mask used with a frame having lateral connector portions having a stiffening member. The mask assembly may include a nose height adjustment device for the height of the cushion, or a cushion adjustment member by which the position of the cushion may be adjusted relative to the frame. The mask assembly may include a chin strap assembly.
1. A respiratory mask assembly for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:
a main body;
a cushion component including a sealing portion,
wherein the sealing portion is constructed and arranged to form a seal with a patient's nose;
a cushion retainer configured to releasably couple the cushion component to the main body,
wherein the cushion retainer comprises a separate and distinct peripheral component from the main body,
wherein the cushion retainer is relatively harder than the cushion component,
wherein the cushion retainer is attachable to the cushion component to form a unit that as a whole is subsequently releasably coupled to the main body,
wherein the cushion retainer includes a cushion retainer part structured and arranged to engage behind a retainer part provided to the main body to releasably couple the cushion retainer to the main body, wherein the cushion retainer is releasably coupled to the main body in a substantially fixed, substantially non-adjustable position to resist adjustable movement between the cushion retainer and the main body when the cushion retainer is coupled to the main body, wherein the cushion component and the cushion retainer form at least a portion of a breathing chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure,
wherein the cushion retainer includes an opening structured to receive a flow of air at the therapeutic pressure for breathing by the patient, and
wherein the cushion retainer is configured to releasably couple the cushion component to the main body while allowing the flow of air to the cushion component;
a gas washout vent component configured to releasably couple with the main body, the gas washout vent component configured to washout gas from the breathing chamber to ambient atmosphere,
wherein the main body includes a lower opening having a closed shape and an upper opening having a closed shape that is spaced apart and superior to the lower opening,
wherein the upper opening is configured to receive the cushion retainer when the cushion retainer is releasably coupled with the main body,
wherein the gas washout vent component is releasably coupled to the main body at the lower opening, and the lower opening is configured to allow the gas washout vent component to communicate with the breathing chamber when the gas washout vent component is releasably coupled to the main body,
wherein the gas washout vent component comprises a separate and distinct peripheral component from the main body, the cushion component, and the cushion retainer,
wherein the gas washout vent component is configured to engage the main body along an entire perimeter of the lower opening, and
wherein, when the gas washout vent component is released from the main body, the gas washout vent component is thereby separated from the cushion component and the cushion retainer;
headgear to maintain the respiratory mask assembly in position on a patient's head, the headgear including upper side straps and lower side straps; and
a pair of lower headgear connectors, each of the pair of lower headgear connectors configured to connect a respective one of the lower side straps to the main body.
2. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a pair of upper lateral members provided to the main body, each of the pair of upper lateral members including a respective one of a pair of upper headgear connectors, and the upper side straps are adapted to connect to a respective of the pair of upper headgear connectors.
3. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion retainer includes an inside surface exposed to said therapeutic pressure in use.
4. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion retainer comprises polycarbonate and the cushion component comprises silicone.
5. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion retainer part forms a space to receive the retainer part of the main body when the cushion retainer is releasably coupled with the main body.
6. A CPAP system for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the CPAP system comprising:
the respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 ;
a blower to supply a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure; and
a conduit to pass the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure from the blower to the respiratory mask assembly.
7. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the gas washout vent component includes an axis that is configured to align with an axis of the lower opening when the gas washout vent component is releasably coupled to the main body.
8. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion component is configured to remain coupled to the main body when the gas washout vent component is released from the main body.
9. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cushion component is arranged superior to the upper opening of the main body.