Breathing assistance apparatus

Abstract

A mask with cushion that has an outer film is disclosed. The film may be self-skinning or a film formed about or glued to the cushion body. In another form the cushion may be formed with at least a portion having a plurality of adjacent voids having honeycomb-like structure.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A cushion for a patient interface, the cushion comprising:
 a cushion body comprising a cushion surface for forming a seal against a face of a patient;   a cavity for receiving a nose of the patient, the cushion body defining the cavity; and   a plurality of hexagonal voids in the cushion surface to reduce pressure on the face of the patient, the plurality of hexagonal voids comprising:
 a first hexagonal void; 
 a second hexagonal void sharing a first edge with the first hexagonal void; and 
 a third hexagonal void, the second hexagonal void sharing a second edge with the third hexagonal void, the third hexagonal void sharing a third edge with the first hexagonal void. 
   
     
     
         3 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hexagonal voids are only in a partial region of the cushion body. 
     
     
         4 . The cushion of  claim 2 , wherein the partial region is a nasal bridge region of the cushion body. 
     
     
         5 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hexagonal voids extend across an entire cushion surface. 
     
     
         6 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion body comprises rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion body comprises gel. 
     
     
         8 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion body comprises foam. 
     
     
         9 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion body comprises silicone. 
     
     
         10 . A cushion for a patient interface, the cushion comprising:
 a cushion body comprising a cushion surface for forming a seal against a face of a patient;   a cavity for receiving a nose of the patient, the cushion body defining the cavity; and   an array of voids in the cushion surface to reduce pressure on the face of the patient, the array of voids positioned in at least a nasal bridge region of the cushion body.   
     
     
         11 . The cushion of  claim 9 , wherein each of the array of voids is hexagonal. 
     
     
         12 . The cushion of  claim 9 , wherein adjacent voids of the array of voids share an edge. 
     
     
         13 . The cushion of  claim 9 , wherein the array of hexagonal voids extend across an entire cushion surface. 
     
     
         14 . The cushion of  claim 9 , wherein the cushion body comprises rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The cushion of  claim 9 , wherein the cushion body comprises gel. 
     
     
         16 . A cushion for a patient interface, the cushion comprising:
 a cushion body comprising a cushion surface for forming a seal against a face of a patient;   a cavity for receiving a nose of the patient, the cushion body defining the cavity; and   at least one hexagonal void in a nasal bridge region of the cushion body.   
     
     
         17 . The cushion of  claim 15 , wherein the cushion body comprises rubber. 
     
     
         18 . The cushion of  claim 15 , wherein the cushion body comprises gel. 
     
     
         19 . The cushion of  claim 15 , wherein the cushion body comprises foam. 
     
     
         20 . The cushion of  claim 15 , wherein the cushion body comprises silicone.