Delivery of respiratory therapy

Abstract

An air delivery system for providing a supply of air from a source of air at positive pressure to an interfacing structure located at the entrance to the airways of a patient includes a manifold adapted to connect with the supply of positive air pressure and at least one tube connected to the manifold and adapted to deliver the supply of air to the interfacing structure. Each tube is structured to allow movement between an open phase in which the tube allows the passage of air and a collapsed phase in which the tube is collapsed. Each tube is structured such that weight of a typical patient's head against bedding apparel is sufficient to collapse the tube from the open phase to the collapsed phase.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A mask system for providing a supply of air from a source of air at positive pressure to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising:
 an interfacing structure configured to engage the patient's nose, the interfacing structure having a single orifice adapted to deliver the supply of air to both of the patient's nostrils;   two inlet conduits detachably connectable to the interfacing structure and adapted to deliver the supply of air to the interfacing structure, each inlet conduit being adapted to extend from the crown of the patient's head or from in front of the crown of the patient's head, along a respective side of the patient's face between the patient's eye and ear, and to the interfacing structure positioned under the patient's nose;   two rigid end portions, each rigid end portion being provided to an end of a respective one of the inlet conduits, to facilitate connection of the inlet conduits to the interfacing structure, the two rigid end portions being more rigid than the two inlet conduits; and   a back strap extending between the two inlet conduits and adapted to engage the back of the patient's head,   wherein the back strap is comprised of a different material than the inlet conduits.   
     
     
         22 . The mask system of  claim 21 , each said conduit includes an eye that receives a respective end of the back strap. 
     
     
         23 . The mask system of  claim 22 , wherein the back strap is elastic. 
     
     
         24 . The mask system of  claim 23 , wherein a length of the back strap is selectively adjustable, and the back strap includes hook and loop material. 
     
     
         25 . The mask system of  claim 21 , wherein the two inlet conduits are structured and configured to cooperate such that pressurized air from the source of air is delivered to the interfacing structure via one or both of the inlet conduits even if one of the inlet conduits assumes an at least partially collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The mask system of  claim 25 , wherein each inlet conduit is structured to allow movement between (1) an open phase in which the conduit allows the passage of air and (2) a collapsed phase in which the conduit is collapsed, and each conduit is structured such that weight of a typical patient's head against bedding apparel is sufficient to collapse the conduit from the open phase to the collapsed phase. 
     
     
         27 . The mask system of  claim 21 , wherein the inlet conduits are arranged to define, in use, a generally oval or ring-shape configuration. 
     
     
         28 . The mask system of  claim 21 , wherein the interfacing structure is configured to engage an underside of the patient's nose. 
     
     
         29 . The mask system of  claim 28 , wherein the interfacing structure includes a silicone interface to engage and seal with the underside of the patient's nose. 
     
     
         30 . The mask system of  claim 21 , wherein each inlet conduit has a cross-sectional shape that provides a blending contour to blend with the patient's face. 
     
     
         31 . The mask system of  claim 30 , wherein each inlet conduit has a generally D-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         32 . The mask system of  claim 31 , wherein each inlet conduit has a cross-sectional area that varies along its length. 
     
     
         33 . The mask system of  claim 21 , further comprising a manifold adapted to fluidly connect the two inlet conduits with the source of air, the manifold including swiveling features. 
     
     
         34 . The mask system of  claim 33 , wherein the manifold is configured to move relative to the inlet conduits in a swiveling manner. 
     
     
         35 . The mask system of  claim 21 , wherein each rigid end portion is co-molded with a respective one of the inlet conduits. 
     
     
         36 . The mask system of  claim 21 , wherein each inlet conduit is molded from a silicone material. 
     
     
         37 . The mask system of  claim 21 , wherein the back strap is elastic,
 wherein a length of the back strap is selectively adjustable, and the back strap includes hook and loop material,   wherein the two inlet conduits are structured and configured to cooperate such that pressurized air from the source of air is delivered to the interfacing structure via one or both of the inlet conduits even if one of the inlet conduits assumes an at least partially collapsed configuration,   wherein each inlet conduit is structured to allow movement between (1) an open phase in which the conduit allows the passage of air and (2) a collapsed phase in which the conduit is collapsed, and each conduit is structured such that weight of a typical patient's head against bedding apparel is sufficient to collapse the conduit from the open phase to the collapsed phase,   wherein the interfacing structure includes a silicone interface to engage and seal with the underside of the patient's nose, and   wherein each inlet conduit has a cross-sectional shape that provides a blending contour to blend with the patient's face.   
     
     
         38 . A mask system for providing a supply of air from a source of air at positive pressure to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising:
 an interfacing structure configured to engage the patient's nose, the interfacing structure having a single orifice adapted to deliver the supply of air to both of the patient's nostrils;   two inlet conduits detachably connectable to the interfacing structure and adapted to deliver the supply of air to the interfacing structure, each inlet conduit being adapted to extend from the crown of the patient's head or from in front of the crown of the patient's head, along a respective side of the patient's face between the patient's eye and ear, and to the interfacing structure positioned under the patient's nose;   two rigid end portions, each rigid end portion being provided to an end of a respective one of the inlet conduits, to facilitate connection of the inlet conduits to the interfacing structure, the two rigid end portions being more rigid than the two inlet conduits; and   a back strap extending between the two inlet conduits and adapted to engage the back of the patient's head,   wherein each inlet conduit is molded from a silicone material.   
     
     
         39 . The mask system of  claim 38 , wherein each inlet conduit has a cross-sectional shape that provides a blending contour to blend with the patient's face. 
     
     
         40 . The mask system of  claim 39 , wherein each inlet conduit has a generally D-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         41 . The mask system of  claim 40 , wherein each inlet conduit has a cross-sectional area that varies along its length. 
     
     
         42 . The mask system of  claim 41 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each inlet conduit varies along its length while the hydraulic diameter remains substantially constant. 
     
     
         43 . The mask system of  claim 38 , each said conduit includes an eye that receives a respective end of the back strap. 
     
     
         44 . The mask system of  claim 43 , wherein the back strap comprises elastic properties. 
     
     
         45 . The mask system of  claim 44 , wherein the back strap is configured to extend across the patient's occiput when the mask system is worn. 
     
     
         46 . The mask system of  claim 45 , wherein a length of the back strap is selectively adjustable, and the back strap includes hook and loop material. 
     
     
         47 . The mask system of  claim 38 , wherein the interfacing structure includes a silicone interface to engage and seal with the underside of the patient's nose. 
     
     
         48 . The mask system of  claim 38 , further comprising a manifold adapted to fluidly connect the two inlet conduits with the source of air, the manifold including swiveling features. 
     
     
         49 . The mask system of  claim 38 , wherein the two inlet conduits are structured and configured to cooperate such that pressurized air from the source of air is delivered to the interfacing structure via one or both of the inlet conduits even if one of the inlet conduits assumes an at least partially collapsed configuration,
 wherein each inlet conduit is structured to allow movement between (1) an open phase in which the conduit allows the passage of air and (2) a collapsed phase in which the conduit is collapsed, and each conduit is structured such that weight of a typical patient's head against bedding apparel is sufficient to collapse the conduit from the open phase to the collapsed phase,   wherein each inlet conduit has a cross-sectional shape that provides a blending contour to blend with the patient's face,   wherein each inlet conduit has a cross-sectional area that varies along its length,   wherein each said conduit includes an eye that receives a respective end of the back strap,   wherein the back strap comprises elastic properties, and   wherein the interfacing structure includes a silicone interface to engage and seal with the underside of the patient's nose.   
     
     
         50 . The mask system of  claim 38 , further comprising a manifold adapted to fluidly connect the two inlet conduits with the source of air, the manifold including swiveling features,
 wherein the manifold is configured to move relative to the inlet conduits in a swiveling manner,   wherein the inlet conduits are arranged to define, in use, a generally oval or ring-shape configuration,   wherein each rigid end portion is co-molded with a respective one of the inlet conduits and has a tubular shape,   wherein the back strap is configured to extend across the patient's occiput when the mask system is worn,   wherein a length of the back strap is selectively adjustable, and the back strap includes hook and loop material,   wherein the back strap is comprised of a different material than the inlet conduits, and   wherein the interfacing structure includes a silicone interface to engage and seal with the underside of the patient's nose.