Mask system
A mask system includes a cushion adapted to seal with a face of a patient. In one form an unobtrusive full-face masks system is provided which is comfortable and has a wide fit range. The cushion may include a sealing structure and a supporting structure. The supporting structure may include gaps or spacing in a nasal bridge region (NBR) and/or a lip region (CHN).
1 . A mask system for providing respiratory therapy to the airways of a patient, the mask system comprising:
a frame;
a pair of lower headgear connectors, each of said pair of lower headgear connectors configured to connect to the frame;
a sealing arrangement configured to interface with the frame, the sealing arrangement configured to form a seal with a patient's face;
wherein the sealing arrangement forms a breathing chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure, the sealing arrangement including an inlet opening configured to receive a flow of air at the therapeutic pressure for breathing by the patient;
an elbow configured to connect to an air delivery tube to deliver the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure to the breathing chamber; and
headgear configured to maintain the mask system in position on a patient's head,
the headgear including a rear strap, a pair of upper side straps configured to be routed over the patient's ears, and a pair of lower side straps configured to be routed under the patient's ears,
wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a face-contacting side and a non face-contacting side,
wherein the non face-contacting side of the sealing arrangement comprises a front wall having the inlet opening configured to communicate with the elbow,
wherein the front wall includes an inside surface arranged to be at said therapeutic pressure in use and an outside surface arranged to be at ambient pressure in use, and the frame includes a wall arranged along the outside surface of the front wall so that the wall is outside the breathing chamber,
wherein the face-contacting side of the sealing arrangement includes a sealing flap,
wherein the front wall of the sealing arrangement comprises a vent including a plurality of vent holes for gas washout,
wherein the vent is positioned along a top portion of the sealing arrangement such that each of the plurality of vent holes is superior the inlet opening configured to communicate with the elbow,
wherein the wall of the frame forms an edge that is arranged inferior the vent and passes directly under each of the plurality of vent holes when the sealing arrangement is interfaced with the frame, the edge configured and arranged to accommodate and expose the vent past the frame when the sealing arrangement is interfaced with the frame,
wherein the frame includes an opening having a closed circular shape, the opening configured to allow the elbow to communicate with the breathing chamber of the sealing arrangement, and
wherein said edge is spaced apart and superior the opening.
2 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the edge passes over the vent when the sealing arrangement is interfaced with the frame.
3 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing arrangement includes at least one lateral stabilising portion configured to direct a force against a side of the patient's nose.
4 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening of the sealing arrangement is coaxially aligned with the closed circular shape of the opening of the frame along a common longitudinal axis when the sealing arrangement is interfaced with the frame.
5 . The mask system according to claim 4 , wherein the elbow is configured to penetrate through the opening of the frame and through the inlet opening of the sealing arrangement.
6 . The mask system according to claim 4 , wherein the frame includes a second opening having a closed shape that is spaced apart from and above the opening, the second opening comprising the edge.
7 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a pair of upper headgear connectors.
8 . The mask system according to claim 7 , wherein each of the pair of upper side straps are configured to connect to a respective one of the pair of upper headgear connectors of the frame and each of the pair of lower side straps are configured to connect to a respective one of the pair of lower headgear connectors.
9 . The mask system according to claim 7 , wherein each of the pair of upper headgear connectors includes an elongated rigidizer arm configured to extend along respective sides of the patient's face.
10 . The mask system according to claim 9 , wherein each said elongated rigidizer arm has a curved portion that, in use, curves in an upwards direction such that each said elongated rigidizer arm is configured to extend along the patient's cheek and between the patient's eye and ear.
11 . The mask system according to claim 9 , wherein each said elongated rigidizer arm provides a receiving hole configured to receive a respective one of the pair of upper side straps of the headgear in use, and wherein each receiving hole is arranged posterior the sealing flap.
12 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of lower headgear connectors is configured to connect to the frame at a location that is anterior the sealing flap.
13 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the mask system is provided without a forehead support including a forehead support arm extending from a top end of the frame.
14 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing arrangement includes a nasal bridge region and a side-of-nose region, and wherein the sealing flap is thinner in the nasal bridge region than in the side-of-nose region.
15 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing arrangement is configured to form a seal with a patient's nose and mouth.
16 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing arrangement is configured to form a seal with the patient's face in a nasal bridge region of the face, a side of nose region of the face, a mouth corner region of the face, and a lip region of the face, and wherein sealing arrangement is further configured to form a seal on the nasal bone of the nasal bridge region of the patient's face below the nasion and above the cartilage of the nose.
17 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the face-contacting side and the non face-contacting side comprise a co-molded construction.
18 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of lower headgear connectors comprises a headgear clip configured to connect to a respective one of a pair of abbreviated rigidizer arms provided to the frame.
19 . The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the non face-contacting side of the sealing arrangement includes one or more interfacing structures configured to interlock with the frame, and wherein the frame and the sealing arrangement are constructed and arranged such that a proper connection between the frame and the sealing arrangement results in an audible clicking noise.