Breathing assistance apparatus

Abstract

Headgear for use with a respiratory mask is described. The headgear comprises a continuous and substantially curved elongate member extending in use below a user's nose and at least two headgear straps capable of attachment to the ends of the elongate member. A mask attachment on the elongate member is disposed to sit below or on one of said user's nose, mouth, upper lip and an inlet to the mask. The attachment is capable of receiving the mask.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A breathing assistance apparatus for use with delivery of respiratory gases to a user, comprising:
 a mask comprising a body and a cushion, the cushion configured to substantially form a seal with a user's airways; and   a headgear comprising at least two substantially flexible and soft straps, at least two lower straps, and a substantially continuous curved elongate member configured to attach to the mask,   wherein the mask has an inlet extension tube and the substantially continuous curved elongate member is attached to or rests beneath the inlet extension tube, anchoring the mask to a user's face in use,   wherein the substantially continuous curved elongate member is substantially rigid compared to the at least two substantially flexible and soft straps and comprises:
 a central section; 
 at least two contoured side arms extending over a user's cheeks and attached to the at least two substantially flexible and soft straps, the at least two contoured side arms providing rigidity and stability to the headgear and mask; and 
 at least two arms attached to the at least two lower straps extending from a cheek region of the at least two contoured side arms and extending behind a user's head, the at least two arms providing stability and rigidity to the at least two lower straps. 
   
     
     
         3 . The breathing assistance apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the central section is formed integrally with a mask base, to which the mask is attached. 
     
     
         4 . The breathing assistance apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the body and the mask base are configured to be maintained together by a snap or bump fitted part. 
     
     
         5 . The breathing assistance apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the body is overmoulded to a clip that is connectable to the mask base. 
     
     
         6 . The breathing assistance apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the body and the cushion are integrally moulded in a substantially flexible plastics material such as silicone. 
     
     
         7 . The breathing assistance apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially continuous curved elongate member is moulded in a three dimensional manner to fit a contour of the user's cheeks. 
     
     
         8 . The breathing assistance apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two contoured side arms are integrally moulded with the central section. 
     
     
         9 . The breathing assistance apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two contoured side arms each include at least one weakened or narrow area to allow for additional bending, moulding, or twisting, and the at least one weakened or narrow area is narrower in cross-section than a remainder of the at least two contoured side arms. 
     
     
         10 . The breathing assistance apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least two substantially flexible and soft straps are made from a composite foam layered material. 
     
     
         11 . The breathing assistance apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mask is a full face mask in which the body extends to cover a user's mouth and nose.