Positioning and stabilising structure for a patient interface system

Abstract

A patient interface system to treat sleep disordered breathing of a patient with pressurized gas, comprising: a patient interface; at least one strap; at least one retractor fixedly attached to the patient interface, said at least one retractor connected to the at least one strap and configured to retract the at least one strap without patient actuation; and at least one pad to cushion a rearward portion of the patient's head, said at least one pad having an opening, wherein said at least one strap passes through said opening to allow the at least one pad to move freely relative to said at least one strap.

1 . A patient interface system to treat sleep disordered breathing of a patient with pressurized gas, comprising:
 a patient interface;   at least one strap;   at least one retractor fixedly attached to the patient interface, said at least one retractor connected to the at least one strap and configured to retract the at least one strap without patient actuation; and   at least one pad to cushion a rearward portion of the patient's head, said at least one pad having an opening,   wherein said at least one strap passes through said opening to allow the at least one pad to move freely relative to said at least one strap.   
     
     
         2 . The patient interface system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retractor comprises a pair of retractors, each disposed on an opposite side of the patient interface, and
 wherein each of the pair of retractors is connected to a respective end of said at least one strap.   
     
     
         3 . The patient interface system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one strap comprises a single strap, each of the pair of retractors configured to retract a respective end of said single strap, and
 wherein said single strap passes above the patient's ears and below the patient's eyes when the patient interface system is donned by the patient.   
     
     
         4 . The patient interface system of  claim 2 , wherein said single strap comprises a pair of bifurcation points, and
 wherein said single strap is split into a pair of rear straps at said pair of bifurcation points.   
     
     
         5 . The patient interface system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retractor comprises a single retractor connected to a first end of the at least one strap and disposed on a first side of said patient interface, and
 wherein a second end of said at least one strap is fixedly attached to a second side of said patient interface, said second side being opposite said first side.   
     
     
         6 . The patient interface system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one strap comprises a single strap, and
 wherein said single strap passes above the patient's ears and below the patient's eyes when the patient interface system is donned by the patient.   
     
     
         7 . The patient interface system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retractor comprises a first retractor and a second retractor, said first retractor disposed on the patient interface higher than the second retractor in a plane parallel to the patient's sagittal plane,
 wherein said at least one strap comprises a first strap and a second strap and said at least one pad comprises a first pad and a second pad, each corresponding to the first strap and the second strap, and   wherein the first retractor is structured to retract both ends of the first strap and the second retractor is structured to retract both ends of the second strap.   
     
     
         8 . The patient interface system of  claim 7 , wherein said first strap passes above the patient's ears and below the patient's eyes and,
 wherein said second strap passes below the patient's ears, when the patient interface system is donned on the patient.   
     
     
         9 . The patient interface system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retractor comprises a single retractor disposed centrally on the patient interface in a horizontal plane,
 wherein the at least one strap comprises a single strap, and   wherein the single retractor is structured to retract both ends of the single strap.   
     
     
         10 . The patient interface system of  claim 9 , wherein said single strap passes above the patient's ears and below the patient's eyes when the patient interface system is donned by the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The patient interface system of  claim 10 , further comprising a pair of rigidiser arms, each disposed on an opposite side of said patient interface,
 wherein each of the pair of rigidiser arms is structured to allow the strap to pass freely therethrough such that tension force vectors of the strap are directed above the patient's ears and below the patient's eyes when the patient interface system is donned by the patient.   
     
     
         12 . The patient interface system of  claim 11 , wherein said pair of rigidiser arms are deformable to substantially conform to the patient's face by flexing in a plane parallel to the patient's sagittal plane and in a plane parallel to the Frankfort horizontal. 
     
     
         13 . The patient interface system of  claim 11 , wherein the pair of rigidiser arms comprise a first material and the patient interface comprises a second material, the first material being less rigid than the second material. 
     
     
         14 . The patient interface system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one strap comprises a pair of straps,
 wherein said at least one retractor comprises a single retractor disposed centrally on the patient interface in a horizontal plane, said single retractor structured to retract both ends of each of the pair of straps, and   wherein a pair of sliders are slidingly disposed on the pair of straps to provide a pair of adjustable bifurcation points between the pair of straps.   
     
     
         15 . The patient interface system of  claim 1 , further comprising additional pads to cushion the patient's cheeks against the at least one strap when said patient interface system is donned on the patient, the additional pads each comprise an additional pad opening,
 wherein said at least one strap passes through said additional pad opening to allow the additional pads to move freely relative to said at least one strap.   
     
     
         16 . The patient interface system of  claim 15 , wherein each of the additional pads comprises a smooth surface on the additional pad opening to minimize friction between the additional pads and the at least one strap. 
     
     
         17 . The patient interface system of  claim 15 , wherein each of the additional pads comprises a soft external material to prevent irritation of the patient's skin. 
     
     
         18 . The patient interface system of  claim 1 , wherein each at least one pad comprises a smooth surface on the opening to minimize friction between the at least one pad and the at least one strap. 
     
     
         19 . The patient interface system of  claim 18 , wherein each at least one pad comprises a soft external material to prevent irritation of the patient's skin. 
     
     
         20 . The patient interface system of  claim 1 , wherein each at least one retractor is fixedly attached to the patient interface at a joint.