Patient interface systems for ensuring effective seal

1. A patient interface system for delivering pressurized gas to a patient's airways for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the system comprising:

a supply tube to deliver a supply of pressurized gas;

a patient interface configured to receive the supply of pressurized gas from the supply tube and deliver the pressurized gas to the patient's airways, the patient interface including left and right portions configured to form a seal with the patient's face; and

a seal maintenance device including:

first and second arms each including upper portions disposed respectively adjacent the left and right portions of the patient interface,

wherein, in use, the first and second arms are configured to move in response to movement of the supply tube by an external force such that the upper portions of the first and second arms respectively urge the left and right portions of the patient interface toward the patient's face to maintain the seal with the patient's face, and

wherein the first and second arms are pivotally coupled to one another.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seal maintenance device further includes an actuator connected to the supply tube.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second arms includes lower portions connected to the actuator.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the movement of the supply tube is configured to cause displacement of the actuator.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second arms are configured to pivot with respect to one another in response to the displacement of the actuator such that the upper portions of the first and second arms respectively urge the left and right portions of the patient interface toward the patient's face.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the seal maintenance device further comprises an extensible connector connected to the actuator and disposed between the actuator and the patient interface.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the extensible connector fluidly connects the supply tube and the patient interface.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the extensible connector is configured to elongate in response to the movement of the supply tube such that the movement of the supply tube is decoupled from the patient interface.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the actuator includes a pair of slots.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second arms includes lower portions connected to the actuator, and wherein the lower portions of the first and second arms are respectively slidably disposed in the slots.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein each upper portion of the first and second arms is configured to be pivotably connected to the patient interface.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second arms is connected to a support member, the support member being connected to a portion of a headgear.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seal maintenance device further includes an actuator connected to the supply tube,

wherein each of the first and second arms includes lower portions connected to the actuator,

wherein the movement of the supply tube is configured to cause displacement of the actuator,

wherein the first and second arms are configured to pivot with respect to one another in response to the displacement of the actuator such that the upper portions of the first and second arms respectively urge the left and right portions of the patient interface toward the patient's face,

wherein the seal maintenance device further comprises an extensible connector connected to the actuator and disposed between the actuator and the patient interface,

wherein the extensible connector fluidly connects the supply tube and the patient interface, and

wherein the extensible connector is configured to elongate in response to the movement of the supply tube such that the movement of the supply tube is decoupled from the patient interface.

14. A patient interface system for delivering pressurized gas to a patient's airways for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the system comprising:

a supply tube to deliver a supply of pressurized gas;

a patient interface configured to receive the supply of pressurized gas from the supply tube and deliver the pressurized gas to the patient's airways, the patient interface including left and right portions configured to form a seal with the patient's face; and

a seal maintenance device including:

an actuator connected to the supply tube, the actuator including a pair of slots;

first and second arms each including upper portions disposed respectively adjacent the left and right portions of the patient interface; and

an extensible connector connected to the actuator and disposed between the actuator and the patient interface, the extensible connector fluidly connecting the supply tube and the patient interface,

wherein, in use, the extensible connector is configured to elongate in response to movement of the supply tube by an external force such that the movement of the supply tube is decoupled from the patient interface,

wherein the actuator is configured to be displaced in response to the movement of the supply tube, the first and second arms being configured to move relative to the patient interface in response to the displacement of the actuator such that the upper portions of the first and second arms respectively urge the left and right portions of the patient interface toward the patient's face to maintain the seal with the patient's face, and

wherein each of the first and second arms includes lower portions connected to the actuator, the lower portions of the first and second arms being respectively slidably disposed in the slots.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein, in use, the extensible connector is configured to extend its length so as to be movable from a compressed position to an extended position.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the extensible connector is configured to retract to the compressed position when the external force is no longer applied.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a support member connected to a portion of a headgear, wherein a first end portion of the extensible connector is connected to the support member.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein each of the first and second arms is connected to the support member.