NZ802636B2 - Mask System - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a mask system for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient for improved patient fit and stability. The patient interface assembly has an elastomeric piece configured to receive a flow of pressurized respiratory gas and seals against the patient’s face. The elastomeric piece forms a plenum and has a mouth seal and a nasal seal aligned with the underside of the patient’s nose and comprising a nasal opening aligned with the patient’s nares in use. At least a portion of the nasal seal is located superior to the mouth seal. The plenum has an anterior surface with an air inlet opening configured to be coupled to an air delivery tube connector and/or an air delivery tube, the plenum being bound by the anterior surface, the mouth seal, and the nasal seal, the plenum receives the pressurized gas through the air inlet opening and discharges the pressurized gas through the mouth opening and the nasal opening. A stiffening structure is attached to the anterior surface of the elastomeric piece, the stiffening structure has a main body and a plurality of connectors extending laterally outward from the main body, and the main body of the stiffening structure has a central aperture that is sized so that the air inlet opening and a portion of the anterior surface surrounding the air inlet opening remain exposed through the central aperture. The main body of the stiffening structure is positioned inferior to an anterior part of the nasal portion configured to receive the patient’s nose tip.

Claims (11)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A patient interface assembly configured to deliver respiratory therapy to a patient’s airways, the patient interface assembly comprising: an elastomeric piece configured to receive a flow of pressurized respiratory gas and sealingly engage the patient’s face, the elastomeric piece forming a plenum and comprising: a mouth sealing portion configured to form a seal around the patient’s mouth and comprising a mouth opening configured to be aligned with the patient’s mouth in use; a nasal sealing portion configured to form a seal with an underside of the patient’s nose and comprising a nasal opening configured to be aligned with one of the patient’s nares in use, at least a portion of the nasal sealing portion being located superior to the mouth sealing portion; and an anterior surface with an air inlet opening configured to be coupled to an air delivery tube connector and/or an air delivery tube, the plenum being bound by the anterior surface, the mouth sealing portion, and the nasal sealing portion, the plenum being configured to receive the pressurized gas through the air inlet opening and discharge the pressurized gas through the mouth opening and the nasal opening; and a stiffening structure that is attached to the anterior surface of the elastomeric piece, the stiffening structure comprising a main body and a plurality of connectors extending laterally outward from the main body, wherein the main body of the stiffening structure comprises a central aperture that is sized so that the air inlet opening and a portion of the anterior surface surrounding the air inlet opening remain exposed through the central aperture, and wherein the main body of the stiffening structure is positioned inferior to an anterior part of the nasal portion configured to receive the patient’s nose tip.

2. The patient interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the nasal sealing portion is located superior to the main body of the stiffening structure.

3. The patient interface assembly of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the main body of the stiffening structure forms a ring around the air inlet opening in the anterior surface of the elastomeric piece. JAWs Ref: 505562DIV9 ResMed Ref: P744NZ10

4. The patient interface assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a superior side of the main body of the stiffening structure is configured to be located between the patient’s mouth and the patient’s nose in use.

5. The patient interface assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises a pair of resiliently flexible arms on opposite lateral sides of the main body, and wherein the connectors are configured to connect to a positioning and stabilizing structure that is configured to support the elastomeric piece and the stiffening structure on the patient’s head.

6. The patient interface assembly of claim 5, further comprising the positioning and stabilizing structure, the positioning and stabilizing structure comprising: a pair of lower straps configured to extend below the patient’s ears, a pair of side straps located superior to the lower straps and configured to extend superior to the patient’s ears, a pair of rear straps connecting the side straps to the lower straps, and a crown strap that extends from one rear strap to the other and is configured to extend across the patient’s crown.

7. The patient interface assembly of claim 6, wherein the lower straps are configured to be connected to the connectors of the stiffening structure.

8. The patient interface assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the patient interface assembly is in the form of an oronasal mask.

9. The patient interface assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising an air delivery tube connector configured to be coupled to the air inlet opening of the elastomeric piece without engaging the stiffening structure.

10. The patient interface assembly of claim 9, further comprising an air delivery tube configured to be connected to the air delivery tube connector. JAWs Ref: 505562DIV9 ResMed Ref: P744NZ10

11. The patient interface assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising an air delivery tube configured to be coupled to the air inlet opening of the elastomeric piece without engaging the stiffening structure.