Mask system

Abstract

A mask system for use between a patient and device to deliver a breathable gas to the patient includes a mouth cushion, a pair of nasal prongs, an elbow, and a headgear assembly. The mouth cushion is structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient's mouth in use, and the pair of nasal prongs are structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use. The elbow delivers breathable gas to the patient. The headgear assembly maintains the mouth cushion and the nasal prongs in a desired position on the patient's face. The headgear assembly provides a substantially round crown strap that cups the parietal bone and occipital bone of the patient's head in use.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A mask system for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient, the mask system comprising:
 a sealing assembly that defines a breathing chamber configured to contemporaneously provide air to both a nose of the patient and a mouth of the patient, the sealing assembly shaped to seat below a nose bridge region of the patient and avoid the nose bridge region of the patient when providing air to both the nose and the mouth, the sealing assembly including:
 (i) a single nasal cushion structured to seal under both nostrils of the patient and provide air from the breathing chamber to the nose of the patient, and 
 (ii) a mouth cushion structured to seal around the mouth of the patient and provide air form the breathing chamber to the mouth of the patient, the mouth cushion integrally formed with the signal nasal cushion; and 
   a headgear assembly structured to maintain the sealing assembly on a face of the patient.   
     
     
         33 . The mask system of  claim 32 , wherein the sealing assembly comprises silicone. 
     
     
         34 . The mask system of  claim 32 , wherein the single nasal cushion and the mouth cushion of the sealing assembly are a one-piece component that is integrally formed. 
     
     
         35 . The mask system of  claim 32 , wherein:
 a portion of the mouth cushion that is structured to seal around the mouth of the patient defines an aperture that communicates with the breathing chamber; and   the aperture defined by the mouth cushion is asymmetric about an axis of the mouth, the axis of the mouth defined to separate an upper lip of the patient from a lower lip of the patient.   
     
     
         36 . The mask system of  claim 32 , wherein the mouth cushion comprises:
 a face contacting membrane with an inner edge that defines an aperture to receive the mouth of the patient; and   an undercushion that extends away from a sidewall of the mouth cushion and into the breathing cavity defined by the sealing assembly.   
     
     
         37 . The mask system of  claim 36 , wherein the undercushion is thicker than the face contacting membrane. 
     
     
         38 . The mask system of  claim 37 , wherein the nasal cushion has a dual-wall structure that includes an outer wall that seals with the patient and an inner wall that is spaced apart from the outer wall and that protrudes into the breathing chamber that is defined by the sealing assembly. 
     
     
         39 . The mask system of  claim 32 , wherein the sealing assembly includes a frame that is structured to attach to the single nasal cushion and the mouth cushion. 
     
     
         40 . The mask system of  claim 39 , wherein the frame is structured to removably attach to the single nasal cushion and the mouth cushion. 
     
     
         41 . The mask system of  claim 39 , wherein the frame defines a vent. 
     
     
         42 . The mask system of  claim 41 , wherein the frame comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         43 . The mask system of  claim 39 , wherein the frame defines an aperture structured to receive an elbow assembly for an air delivery conduit. 
     
     
         44 . The mask system of  claim 43 , wherein the aperture that is structured to receive the elbow assembly is centrally located in the frame. 
     
     
         45 . The mask system of  claim 44 , further comprising the elbow, wherein the elbow comprises a vent. 
     
     
         46 . The mask system of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the sealing assembly includes upper headgear connection elements on respective sides of the frame and lower headgear connection elements on the respective sides of the frame;   the headgear assembly includes one or more upper headgear straps that are structured to connect with the upper headgear connection elements of the sealing assembly; and   the headgear assembly includes one or more lower headgear straps that are structured to connect with the lower headgear connection elements of the sealing assembly,   
     
     
         47 . The mask system of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the single nasal cushion is structured to seal under both nostrils with a nasal sealing surface;   the mouth cushion is structured to seal around the mouth of the patient with a mouth sealing surface; and   the nasal sealing surface is at an approximately right angle to the mouth sealing surface.   
     
     
         48 . The mask system of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the headgear assembly includes means for attaching to the sealing assembly; and   the sealing assembly includes means for attaching to the headgear assembly.   
     
     
         49 . The mask system of  claim 48 , further comprising means providing air to the sealing assembly;
 wherein the sealing assembly includes means for connecting to the means for providing air to the sealing assembly.   
     
     
         50 . The mask system of  claim 49 , wherein the headgear assembly includes means for retaining the headgear on a head of the patient. 
     
     
         51 . The mask system of  claim 50 , wherein the single nasal cushion includes means for sealing with sides of the nose of the patient.