Patient interface assembly and system using same

Abstract

A patient interface assembly that includes a patient interface device, a headgear, and pivoting coupling member joining the interface device to a headgear assembly. In one embodiment, the patient interface device is a nasal cushion that includes a formable support mounted to the nasal cushion for providing support and adjustment of the nasal cushion to improve fit and comfort. In a further embodiment, a pair of rigid connecting members couple the patient interface device to the headgear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A patient interface assembly for use in the delivery of a breathing gas to a patient, comprising:
 a patient interface device having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is proximate to a right side of a patient's face and the second side is proximate to the left side of such a patient's face responsive to the patient interface device being donned by such a patient;   a headgear having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is proximate to a right side of a patient's head and the second side is proximate to the left side of such a patient's head responsive to the headgear being donned by such a patient, the first side having a first post and the second side having a second post;   a rigid coupling member adapted to couple the patient interface device to the headgear, wherein the rigid coupling member includes a first arm connected between the first side of the patient interface device and a first side of the headgear such that the first arm extends over a right cheek region of such a patient's face, and a second arm connected between the second side of the patient interface device and the second side of the headgear such that the second arm extends over a left cheek region of such a patient's face, wherein the first and the second arm are rigid, the first arm having a first slot and the second arm having a second slot, wherein the first post is received within the first slot in a manner that allows a position of the first post in the first slot to be moved to enable an effective length of the first arm to be adjusted and the second post is received within the second slot in a manner that allows a position of the second post in the second slot to be moved to enable an effective length of the second arm to be adjusted.   
     
     
         2 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first post is part of a first friction lock having a first lock nut coupled to the first post and the second post is part of a second friction lock having a second lock nut coupled to the second post, the first friction lock being structured to allow the position of the first post in the first slot to be fixed and the second friction lock being structured to allow the position of the second post in the second slot to be fixed. 
     
     
         3 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm each have a shape that generally matches a contour of a human face underlying the first arm and the second arm responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by a patient. 
     
     
         4 . A patient interface assembly for use in the delivery of a breathing gas to a patient, comprising:
 (a) a patient interface device;   (b) a headgear adapted to be worn by a patient, wherein the headgear comprises:
 (1) an adjustable length cross strap adapted to extend over the top of a patient's head, the cross strap having a first terminal end structured to be positioned on a first side of the patient's head responsive to the patient interface assembly being donned by the patient, 
 (2) an adjustable length rear strap adapted to extend about the rear portion of the patient's head, the rear strap having a second terminal end structured to be positioned on the first side of the patient's head adjacent to the first terminal end responsive to the patient interface assembly being donned by the patient, a length of the cross strap and a length of the rear strap being adjustable independent of one another, and 
 (3) an adjustment assembly structured to be positioned on the first side of the patient's head responsive to the patient interface assembly being donned by the patient, the adjustment assembly including a connecting element having a first end attached to the first terminal end of the cross strap and a second end attached to the second terminal end of the rear strap, wherein the adjustment assembly is configured such that a single actuation of the adjustment assembly on the first side of the patient's head changes the length of both the cross strap and the rear strap simultaneously. 
   
     
     
         5 . The headgear of  claim 4 , wherein the connecting element comprises a cord linking the cross strap and the rear strap, and wherein the adjustment assembly further includes a locking element through which the cord is threaded in a manner wherein the cord forms a loop, and wherein the length of both the cross strap and the rear strap are adjusted simultaneously by adjusting a size of the loop through the locking element. 
     
     
         6 . The headgear of  claim 4 , wherein the headgear further comprises a forehead strap defined by a semi-rigid material operatively coupled to the rear strap. 
     
     
         7 . A patient interface assembly for use in the delivery of a breathing gas to a patient, comprising:
 a patient interface device having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is proximate to a right side of a patient's face and the second side is proximate to the left side of such a patient's face responsive to the patient interface device being donned by such a patient;   a headgear having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is proximate to a right side of a patient's head and the second side is proximate to the left side of such a patient's head responsive to the headgear being donned by such a patient;   a rigid coupling member adapted to couple the patient interface device to the headgear, wherein the rigid coupling member includes a first arm connected between the first side of the patient interface device and a first side of the headgear such that the first arm extends over a right cheek region of such a patient's face, and a second arm connected between the second side of the patient interface device and the second side of the headgear such that the second arm extends over a left cheek region of such a patient's face, wherein the first and the second arm are rigid.   
     
     
         8 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first arm is adjustably coupled to the first side of the headgear so as to change an effective length of the first arm, and the second arm is adjustably coupled to the second side of the headgear so as to change an effective length of the second arm. 
     
     
         9 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first arm and the second arm each have a shape that generally matches a contour of a human face underlying the first arm and the second arm responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by a patient.