Nasal mask system

Abstract

A swivel elbow and connector assembly for a patient interface system includes a ring configured to be sealingly secured in an aperture of the patient interface system and an elbow swivelably secured in the ring. The ring includes a first side in an interior of the patient interface system and a second side at an exterior of the patient interface system when the ring is secured in the aperture. The ring comprises a first flange on the first side and a second flange on the second side, the first and second flanges defining a channel that sealingly engages the aperture of the patient interface system. An inner surface of the ring is partially spherical and an outer surface of the elbow is partially spherical and the elbow and the ring form a ball and socket connection.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A patient interface configured to deliver a flow of air at a positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to a patient's airways including at least the entrance of a patient's nares while a patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface comprising:
 a retractable tube for delivering the flow of air to the patient interface from a flow generator, the retractable tube being stretchable from a neutral retracted position to an extended position during which stretching the tube has a tendency to rotate, resulting in rotational movement of the retractable tube when the retractable tube is stretched;   a cushion assembly comprising:
 a seal-forming structure including a sealing flange constructed and arranged to form a seal with a region of a patient's face surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways, 
 and 
 a plenum chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure above ambient air pressure, 
 wherein the plenum chamber includes an attachment region configured to fluidly couple to the retractable tube, 
   a decoupling system for decoupling tube drag forces when the retractable tube is stretched and moved relative to the cushion assembly, the decoupling system including a first decoupling component to decouple the rotational movement of the retractable tube when the retractable tube is stretched from the neutral retracted position to the extended position, the first decoupling component comprising a first swivel cuff and a second swivel cuff provided to each respective end of the retractable tube.   
     
     
         21 . The patient interface according to  claim 20 , wherein the plenum chamber further includes a side wall region extending between the seal-forming structure and the attachment region, and
 wherein the side wall region includes a cross-sectional thickness that is thicker than the cross-sectional thickness of the sealing flange.   
     
     
         22 . The patient interface according to  claim 21 , wherein the attachment region includes a lip portion structured and arranged to assist with retention of the retractable tube,
 wherein the lip portion includes a cross-sectional thickness that is thicker than the cross-sectional thickness of the side wall region.   
     
     
         23 . The patient interface according to  claim 21 , wherein the attachment region further includes a decoupling fold structured and arranged to allow the attachment region to move relative to the side wall region to permit decoupling from tube drag applied by the retractable tube,
 wherein the decoupling fold has a first part attached to the attachment region and a second part attached to the side wall.   
     
     
         24 . The patient interface according to  claim 20 , wherein the seal-forming structure and the plenum chamber comprise a one piece molded construction of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         25 . The patient interface according to  claim 20 , wherein the plenum chamber further comprises a pair of headgear connectors structured and arranged to provide connection to headgear, each of the pair of headgear connectors disposed on a respective side of the side wall region. 
     
     
         26 . The patient interface according to  claim 25 , wherein each of the pair of headgear connectors includes a thinner wall section to enhance flexibility and bending relative to the side wall region. 
     
     
         27 . The patient interface according to  claim 20 , a second decoupling component to decouple movement of the retractable tube relative to the cushion assembly, the second decoupling component comprising a swivel elbow connected to the cushion assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The patient interface according to  claim 20 , further comprising a swivel cuff annular engaging ring that is received in an annular groove of the swivel elbow, the swivel cuff annular engaging ring configured to be in rotatable engagement with the retractable tube for delivering the flow of air to the patient interface. 
     
     
         29 . The patient interface according to  claim 28 , wherein the swivel cuff annular engaging ring is rotatably connected to the swivel elbow. 
     
     
         30 . The patient interface according to  claim 28 , wherein the swivel cuff annular engaging ring has a channel portion defined on an outer circumferential surface to matingly receive a first swivel cuff provided to the retractable tube. 
     
     
         31 . The patient interface according to  claim 30 , wherein the retractable tube includes a first end connected to the first swivel cuff. 
     
     
         32 . The patient interface according to  claim 31 , wherein the retractable tube comprises a second end connected to the second swivel cuff, the second swivel cuff configured to swivelably and releasably connect to a second component. 
     
     
         33 . The patient interface according to  claim 32 , wherein the second swivel cuff includes an annular engaging ring defined on an inner surface of the second swivel cuff configured to be matingly received within an annular groove of the second component. 
     
     
         34 . The patient interface according to  claim 32 , wherein the second component is a cuff connector for connecting to another tube. 
     
     
         35 . The patient interface according to  claim 32 , wherein the retractable tube is freely rotatable relative to the swivel elbow and connector assembly and freely rotatable relative to the second component when the retractable tube is stretched, and rotational force from stretching of the retractable tube is contained between the first and second swivel cuffs. 
     
     
         36 . The patient interface according to  claim 20 , further comprising a vent having a plurality of holes configured to permit flow of gases from an interior to an exterior of the patient interface. 
     
     
         37 . A patient interface configured to deliver a flow of air at a positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to a patient's airways including at least the entrance of a patient's nares while a patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface comprising:
 a cushion assembly comprising:
 a seal-forming structure including a sealing flange constructed and arranged to form a seal with a region of a patient's face surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways, 
 a support flange, and 
 a plenum chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure above ambient air pressure, 
   wherein the seal-forming structure includes a nose ridge region, side of nose regions, corner of nose regions, and a top lip region, and wherein the support flange is only provided in the top lip region and the corner of nose regions.   
     
     
         38 . The patient interface according to  claim 37 , further comprising a vent having a plurality of holes configured to permit flow of gases from an interior to an exterior of the patient interface. 
     
     
         39 . A patient interface configured to deliver a flow of air at a positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to a patient's airways including at least the entrance of a patient's nares while a patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface comprising:
 a cushion assembly comprising:
 a seal-forming structure including a sealing flange constructed and arranged to form a seal with a region of a patient's face surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways, 
 a vent having a plurality of holes configured to permit flow of gases from an interior to an exterior of the patient interface, 
 and 
 a plenum chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure above ambient air pressure, 
 wherein the plenum chamber further includes a side wall region, 
 wherein the side wall region includes a cross-sectional thickness that is thicker than the cross-sectional thickness of the sealing flange, 
 wherein the seal-forming structure and the plenum chamber comprise a one piece molded construction, 
 wherein the seal-forming structure and the plenum chamber comprise an elastomeric material, 
 wherein the plenum chamber further comprises a pair of headgear connectors structured and arranged to provide a connection to headgear, each of the pair of headgear connectors disposed on a respective side of the side wall region, and 
 wherein each of the pair of headgear connectors includes a thinner wall section to enhance flexibility and bending relative to the side wall region.