Air delivery conduit

1. An air delivery conduit configured to connect a patient interface to a supply of pressurized breathable gas for delivery of the breathable gas to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the air delivery conduit comprising:

an inner surface defining a tubular passageway configured to, in use, convey the breathable gas from the supply to the patient interface;

an outer surface having a tubular shape and being exposed to atmosphere in use; and

at least one resilient support structure attached to the outer surface and extending around a circumference of the conduit such that, in an axial cross-sectional view of the conduit, the inner surface and the outer surface extend between spaced-apart sections of the support structure, the support structure being configured to provide form and crush-resistance to the conduit during treatment of sleep disordered breathing,

wherein, in the axial cross-sectional view, the inner surface and the outer surface have matching arc-shaped portions extending between adjacent spaced-apart sections of the support structure, each arc-shaped portion of the inner surface forming a concave shape and each arc-shaped portion of the outer surface forming a convex shape, and

wherein the outer surface has a substantially non-circular transverse cross-sectional shape.

2. The air delivery conduit of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of rings positioned along the length of the outer surface to support and provide form to the conduit.

3. The air delivery conduit of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface is formed of an air impermeable material and the outer surface comprises a textile material, wherein the support structure is attached to the textile material.

4. The air delivery conduit of claim 3 , wherein the support structure is laminated to the textile material.

5. The air delivery conduit of claim 4 , wherein the support structure is laminated as a series of discontinuous lines.

6. The air delivery conduit of claim 5 , wherein the discontinuous lines form a plurality of rings disposed along a length of the conduit.

7. The air delivery conduit of claim 5 , wherein the discontinuous lines are diagonal lines.

8. The air delivery conduit of claim 3 , wherein the textile material is woven, non-woven, braided or three-dimensionally printed.

9. The air delivery conduit of claim 3 , wherein the air impermeable material comprises polyurethane, silicone, or nylon.

10. The air delivery conduit of claim 3 , wherein the air delivery conduit comprises an inner laminate layer formed of the air impermeable material and a textile layer formed of the textile material.

11. The air delivery conduit of claim 10 , wherein the laminate layer is glued, melted, or sprayed on the textile layer.

12. The air delivery conduit of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a polymer.

13. The air delivery conduit of claim 12 , wherein the polymer comprises nylon, polypropylene, or silicone.

14. The air delivery conduit of claim 1 , further comprising a first cuff attached to a first end of the conduit and a second cuff attached to a second end of the conduit.

15. The air delivery conduit of claim 14 , wherein the first cuff is configured to facilitate connection of the conduit to the patient interface, and the second cuff is configured to facilitate connection of the conduit to the supply of pressurized breathable gas.

16. The air delivery conduit of claim 1 , wherein the conduit has an inner surface that is smooth.

17. The air delivery conduit of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface is formed of an air impermeable material and the outer surface comprises a textile material

further comprising a first cuff attached to a first end of the conduit and a second cuff attached to a second end of the conduit,

wherein the first cuff is configured to facilitate connection of the conduit to the patient interface, and the second cuff is configured to facilitate connection of the conduit to the supply of pressurized breathable gas,

wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of rings positioned along the length of the outer surface to support and provide form to the conduit,

wherein the support structure is attached to the textile material,

wherein the support structure comprises a polymer,

wherein the air impermeable material comprises polyurethane, silicone or nylon, and

wherein the conduit has a length of between 200 mm and 700 mm.

18. A mask assembly for providing pressurized gas to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the mask assembly comprising:

a patient interface configured to interface with the patient's face to deliver a flow of pressurized gas to the patient's airways; and

the air delivery conduit of claim 1 .

19. The air delivery conduit of claim 1 , wherein each of the inner surface and the outer surface is constructed of a flexible air impermeable material.

20. The air delivery conduit of claim 19 , wherein both the inner surface and the outer surface do not comprise a textile material.

21. The air delivery conduit of claim 1 , wherein the air delivery conduit comprises an inner air impermeable laminate layer having the inner surface and an outer air impermeable laminate layer having the outer surface, and wherein a textile layer is disposed between the inner laminate layer and the outer laminate layer.