Nasal assembly

Abstract

A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having an integrally formed first connector portion. A nozzle assembly includes a gusset or base portion and a pair of nozzles. At least one inlet conduit is structured to deliver breathable gas into the frame and nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient. A pair of second connector portions are removably and rotatably connected to respective first connector portions of the frame and are in communication with respective inlet conduits, e.g., directly or via angle connectors. A headgear assembly is removably connected to the pair of second connector portions and/or the angle connectors so as to maintain the frame and the nozzle assembly in a desired adjusted position on the patient's face.

1 - 52 . (canceled)  
     
     
         53 . A headgear assembly for securing a nozzle arrangement of a nasal pillows mask in a desired adjusted position on the face of a patient's head, said nozzle arrangement including a base portion and a pair of nasal pillows projecting from the base portion, said headgear assembly including: 
 a rear portion formed from a soft and flexible strap material and including an adjustable top strap arrangement structured to pass over a top portion of the patient's head and a rear strap arrangement structured to pass over a rear portion of the patient's head; and    a pair of side portions, each side portion being structured to extend from the rear portion towards the nozzle assembly;    wherein the adjustable top strap arrangement includes first and second top strap portions structured to pass over the top of the patient's head and a top strap buckle arrangement adjustably coupling together the top strap portions, the top strap buckle arrangement being structured to allow symmetrical adjustment of the headgear assembly, by allowing the tension in the first and second top strap portions to be symmetrically altered, the top strap buckle arrangement being configured to be centrally located on the head of the patient.    
     
     
         54 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 53 , wherein the rear strap arrangement is adjustable, and includes first and second rear strap portions and a rear strap buckle arrangement adjustably coupling together the first and second rear strap portions.  
     
     
         55 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein the rear strap buckle arrangement is structured to allow symmetrical adjustment of the headgear assembly, by allowing the tension in the first and second rear strap portions to be symmetrically altered, and the rear strap buckle arrangement is configured to be centrally located on the head of the patient.  
     
     
         56 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 55 , wherein each of the top and rear strap buckle arrangements are formed with first and second cross bars around which respective end tabs of the first and second top and rear straps are arranged to be pulled in opposite directions during adjustment to counteract one another.  
     
     
         57 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein fastening of the first and second rear and top strap portions is effected by use of a hook and loop material.  
     
     
         58 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 53 , including a connector element for fastening an air delivery tube in position.  
     
     
         59 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 58 , wherein the connector element includes an adjustable loop of hook and loop material.  
     
     
         60 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 53 , which is structured to direct headgear tension forces onto both the underside of the nares of the patient and the top lip of the patient.  
     
     
         61 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 53 , wherein the soft and flexible strap material is a composite material.  
     
     
         62 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 61 , wherein the composite material comprises a layer of fabric and a layer of a polymeric material.  
     
     
         63 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 53 , which does not include a chin strap.  
     
     
         64 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 53 , wherein the adjustment of the strap tension in the rear portion is in a pulling direction which is not aligned with the force the nozzle assembly applies to the patient.  
     
     
         65 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 53 , wherein each of the side portions include side strap portions formed from soft and flexible strap material and a stiffener made of a relatively rigid material compared to the strap material, the stiffener being joined to the strap material and being arranged to assist in stabilizing the nasal assembly on the head of the patient during use.  
     
     
         66 . A headgear assembly for securing a nozzle arrangement of a nasal pillows mask in a desired adjusted position on the face of a patient's head, said nozzle arrangement including a base portion and a pair of nasal pillows projecting from the base portion, said headgear assembly including: 
 a rear portion formed from a soft and flexible strap material and including an adjustable top strap arrangement structured to pass over a top portion of the patient's head and a rear strap arrangement structured to pass over a rear portion of the patient's head; and    a pair of side portions, each side portion being structured to extend from the rear portion towards the nozzle assembly;    wherein the adjustable top strap arrangement includes first and second top strap portions structured to pass over the top of the patient's head and a top strap buckle arrangement adjustably coupling together the top strap portions, the top strap buckle arrangement being structured to allow symmetrical adjustment of the headgear assembly, by allowing the tension in the first and second top strap portions to be symmetrically altered, and wherein the adjustment of the strap tension in the rear portion is in a pulling direction which is not aligned with the force the nozzle assembly applies to the patient.    
     
     
         67 . A headgear assembly for securing a nozzle assembly of a nasal pillows mask in a desired adjusted position on the face of a patient's head, said headgear assembly including: 
 an adjustable upper strap arrangement structured to pass over an upper portion of the patient's head, a rear strap arrangement structured to pass over a rear portion of the patient's head, and an adjustable side strap arrangement,    wherein each of the upper, rear and side strap arrangements are formed from a soft and flexible strap material;    wherein the adjustable upper strap arrangement includes first and second upper strap portions structured to pass over the top of the patient's head and an upper strap buckle arrangement adjustably coupling together the upper strap portions;    wherein the side strap arrangement includes a pair of adjustable side strap portions, each adjustable side strap portion being structured to be adjustably connected to the nozzle assembly via lateral support arms extending on either side of the nozzle assembly.    
     
     
         68 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein each of the adjustable side strap portions are connected to the frame of the frame and nozzle assembly via a side strap buckle arrangement.  
     
     
         69 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 68 , wherein fastening of the first and second upper and side strap portions is effected by use of a hook and loop material.  
     
     
         70 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 68 , wherein each of the upper and side strap buckle arrangements are formed with cross bars around which respective end tabs of the first and second upper and side straps are arranged to be pulled.  
     
     
         71 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the upper strap buckle arrangement is structured to allow symmetrical adjustment of the headgear assembly, by allowing the tension in the first and second upper strap portions to be symmetrically altered.  
     
     
         72 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the adjustable upper strap arrangement includes an upper strap structured to pass over the top of a patient's head, opposite ends of the upper strap having being adjustably connected to the side straps by buckles.  
     
     
         73 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 67  wherein the adjustable rear strap arrangement includes a rear strap structured to pass over the rear of a patient's head, opposite ends of the rear strap having being adjustably connected to the side straps by buckles.  
     
     
         74 . A headgear assembly for securing a nozzle assembly of a nasal pillows mask in a desired adjusted position on the face of a patient's head, said nozzle assembly including a base portion and a pair of nozzles projecting from the base portion, and being structured to direct headgear tension forces onto both the underside of the nares of the patient and the top lip of the patient via the nozzle assembly, said headgear assembly including: 
 a rear portion formed from a soft and flexible strap material and including an adjustable top strap arrangement structured to pass over a top portion of the patient's head and an adjustable rear strap arrangement structured to pass over a rear portion of the patient's head;    a pair of side portions, each side portion being structured to extend from the rear portion towards the nozzle assembly, wherein the adjustable top strap arrangement is structured, via the side portions, to provide a sealing force component operable to pull the pair of nozzles up against the underside of the patient's nares, and the adjustable rear strap arrangement is structured, via the side portions, to provide a stability force component to adjust the stability of the nasal assembly by pulling the nozzle assembly back against the top lip whereby the relative sealing and stability force components are adjustable by selectively varying tension in the adjustable top and rear strap arrangements.    
     
     
         75 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 74 , wherein the adjustable top strap arrangement includes at least one top strap and a symmetrical top strap adjuster structured to enable the symmetrical adjustment of the adjustable top strap.  
     
     
         76 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 74 , wherein the adjustable rear strap arrangement includes at least one rear strap and a symmetrical rear strap adjuster structured to enable the symmetrical adjustment of the adjustable rear strap.  
     
     
         77 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 75 , wherein the top strap adjuster includes a top strap buckle which is centrally locatable on the patient's head, and the at least one top strap includes first and second top strap portions having ends which pass through the top strap buckle, for allowing symmetrical adjustment of tension in the headgear assembly.  
     
     
         78 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 74 , wherein the adjustable rear strap arrangement includes at least one rear strap and a symmetrical rear strap adjuster structured to enable the symmetrical adjustment of the adjustable rear strap.  
     
     
         79 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 78 , wherein the rear strap adjuster includes a rear strap buckle which is centrally locatable on the patient's head, and the at least one rear strap includes first and second rear strap portions having ends which pass through the rear strap buckle, for allowing symmetrical adjustment of tension in the headgear assembly.  
     
     
         80 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 79 , wherein the respective ends of the first and second top strap portions and the respective ends of the first and second rear strap portions are arranged to be pulled in opposite directions during adjustment to counteract one another.  
     
     
         81 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 78 , wherein the adjustment of the strap tension of the first and second top and rear straps is in a pulling direction which is not aligned with the force the nozzle assembly applies to the patient.  
     
     
         82 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 74 , in which each of the side portions include a stiffening support structure which extends in use over the cheeks of the patient, wherein the adjustable rear strap assembly provides the stability force component to adjust the stability of the nasal assembly by pulling the stiffening support structures back towards the cheeks of the patient to assist in stabilizing the nozzle assembly on the head of the patient during use.  
     
     
         83 . A headgear assembly according to  claim 74 , wherein each of the side portions includes a side strap portion of soft flexible material joined to the stiffening support structure, the stiffening support structure being made of a relatively rigid material compared to the side strap portion and providing a relatively rigid support for the nozzle assembly.  
     
     
         84 . A headgear assembly for securing a nozzle assembly of a nasal assembly in a desired adjusted position on the face of a patient's head, said nozzle assembly including a base portion and a pair of nozzles projecting from the base portion, the nozzles being structured to direct sealing forces onto the underside of the nares of the patient and the base portion being structured to direct stability forces to the top lip of the patient, said headgear assembly including: 
 a rear portion formed from a soft and flexible strap material and including an adjustable top strap arrangement structured to pass over a top portion of the patient's head and an adjustable rear strap arrangement structured to pass over a rear portion of the patient's head;    a pair of side portions, each side portion being structured to extend along the patient's cheeks from the rear portion to the frame and nozzle assembly and including a stiffening support structure;    wherein the adjustable top strap arrangement includes at least one top strap and a top strap adjuster which is structured, via the side portions, to adjust a sealing force by pulling the pair of nozzles up against the underside of the patient's nares, and the adjustable rear strap arrangement includes at least one rear strap and a rear strap adjuster which is structured to adjust a stability force and distribute it to the back of the patient's head, cheeks and upper lip to maintain the nasal assembly on the patient's face in use.