Nasal Assembly

Abstract

A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having lateral connector, a cushion with a pair of nozzles, and a clip to secure the cushion to the frame. The frame includes a vent channel and a plurality of vent holes. The frame/cushion includes structure (lugs/cut outs) to prevent the assembly of an unvented frame with an unvented cushion, for safety purposes. The frame includes cored portions that interface with corner lugs provided on the cushion. A patient interface includes a frame, a cushion (nasal mask, nasal-oro mask, nozzles, etc.) and a vent assembly including a pattern of vent holes including at least two rows.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a main body and lateral sides, each lateral side including an integrally formed lateral connector; and a cushion including a pair of nozzles to communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use, the cushion being coupled with the main body of the frame, wherein: the frame includes a plurality of vent holes, said vent holes being provided in two or more rows arranged such that the vent holes are offset from one another. 
   
   
       14 . The nasal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each row includes over 10 vent holes. 
   
   
       15 . The nasal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein there are two rows and a total of 35-45 vent holes. 
   
   
       16 . The nasal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein holes of adjacent rows are positioned along a predetermined pitch. 
   
   
       17 . The nasal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein a center of a first said hole in one row is circumferentially spaced from a center of another said hole in the adjacent row to a depth of about 1.0 mm. 
   
   
       18 . The nasal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein a center of a first said hole in one row is longitudinally spaced from a center of another said hole in the adjacent row a width of about 1.175 mm. 
   
   
       19 . The nasal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each said hole has a length of about 1.7 mm. 
   
   
       20 . The nasal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each said hole has an outlet side having a diameter of about 0.7 mm. 
   
   
       21 . The nasal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each said hole has side walls having a radius of curvature of about 0.25 mm. 
   
   
       22 . The nasal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said side walls converge towards the outlet side at an angle of about 5 degrees. 
   
   
       23 - 35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame; a cushion to communicate with a patient's airways in use, the cushion being coupled with the frame; and a vent portion including a plurality of vent holes, said vent holes being provided in two or more rows and the rows being arranged such that the vent holes are offset from one another. 
   
   
       37 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein the vent holes are provided directly in the frame. 
   
   
       38 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein the vent holes are provided on a substrate provided to the frame and/or cushion. 
   
   
       39 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein each row includes more than 5 vent holes. 
   
   
       40 . The patient interface according to  claim 39 , wherein each said row includes more than 10 vent holes. 
   
   
       41 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein there are two rows and a total of 35-45 said vent holes. 
   
   
       42 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein there are two rows and a total of 16-45 said vent holes. 
   
   
       43 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein there are three rows each having more than 12 vent holes and a total of more than 35 said vent holes. 
   
   
       44 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein there are four rows, each of which has at least three of said vent holes. 
   
   
       45 . The patient interface according to  claim 44 , wherein at least two of said rows has at least seven of said vent holes. 
   
   
       46 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein each said hole has a length of about 1.7 mm. 
   
   
       47 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein each said hole has an outlet side having a diameter of about 0.7 mm. 
   
   
       48 . The patient interface according to  claim 47 , wherein said holes converge towards the outlet side. 
   
   
       49 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein said cushion is a nasal only mask. 
   
   
       50 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein said cushion is a nasal-oro mask. 
   
   
       51 . The patient interface according to  claim 36 , wherein said cushion comprises a pair of nozzles to sealingly engage the nares of the patient in use. 
   
   
       52 - 66 . (canceled) 
   
   
       67 . A mask frame comprising: a main body; and a side frame portion provided on each lateral side of the main body; and a vent assembly provided to each side frame portion, each vent assembly including a plurality of holes arranged in a multi-column pattern and each column being vertically staggered with respect to one another. 
   
   
       68 . The mask frame according to  claim 67 , wherein each side frame portion includes upper and lower anchors adapted to attach a headgear assembly. 
   
   
       69 . The mask frame according to  claim 68 , wherein each vent assembly is positioned adjacent the upper anchor. 
   
   
       70 . The mask frame according to  claim 67 , wherein each vent assembly includes a plurality of holes arranged in 3-10 columns. 
   
   
       71 . The mask frame according to  claim 70 , wherein each vent assembly includes a plurality of holes arranged in 5 columns. 
   
   
       72 . The mask frame according to  claim 67 , wherein each column includes 2-6 holes. 
   
   
       73 . The mask frame according to  claim 72 , wherein each column includes 4 holes. 
   
   
       74 . The mask frame according to  claim 67 , wherein each hole has a generally part conic shape including opposed walls that converge from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter, as viewed in the direction of exhausted gas. 
   
   
       75 . The mask frame according to  claim 67 , wherein the holes are positioned on relatively flat portions of the side frame portion. 
   
   
       76 . The mask frame according to  claim 67 , wherein a first hole in each column cooperate to form an axis that is angled with respect to a vertical axis of the frame. 
   
   
       77 . The mask frame according to  claim 76 , wherein the axis is angled about 15-35° with respect to the vertical axis. 
   
   
       78 . The mask frame according to  claim 67 , wherein each hole is provided along a plane that forms an angle with respect to a vertical axis of the frame. 
   
   
       79 . The mask frame according to  claim 78 , wherein the plane is angled about 20-40° with respect to the vertical axis. 
   
   
       80 . The mask frame according to  claim 67 , wherein each hole has a longitudinal axis that is angled with respect to a transverse axis of the frame. 
   
   
       81 . The mask frame according to  claim 80 , wherein the longitudinal axis is angled about −10° to about 45° with respect to the transverse axis. 
   
   
       82 . A mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient including a mask frame according to  claim 67 . 
   
   
       83 - 105 . (canceled)