# US 10,500,424 B2 · Patient interface systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,424 B2 - Document ID: US10500424B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/070,677 - Filed: 2013-11-04 - Published: 2014-02-27 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-07 - Assignees: ResMed Pty Ltd - Applicants: ResMed Pty Ltd - Inventors: Gerard Michael Rummery; Robert Edward Henry; Phoebe Katherine Hill; Andrew Hurst; Philip Michael Nurse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500424B2 ## CPC - A62B 9/04: Couplings; Supporting frames - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 16/0611: {with a gusset portion} - A61M 16/0622: {having an underlying cushion} - A61M 16/0666: {Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02)} - A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/0825: {with ball-sockets} - A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise - A61M 2210/0618: Nose - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A headgear for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes at least a strap adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient's airways. The strap is constructed from an elastomer and a first side of the strap includes a first region on a portion of its surface that is textured to reduce friction with objects contacting the strap. A textured surface coating for a portion of an elastomer strap included in a headgear system is adapted to contact the skin of a patient, when in use, and the coating has a Ra value greater than zero. A vent for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes a plurality of rises and runs in a stepped arrangement; and a plurality of holes in the stepped arrangement for the venting of gas. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A textured surface coating of a portion of an elastomer strap included in a headgear system, wherein the textured surface coating is adapted to contact the skin of a patient when the headgear system is mounted on a patient's head, and the textured surface coating has a Ra value greater than zero. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The textured surface coating of claim 1, wherein the headgear system is configured to support a respiratory patient interface structure on the patient's face, the respiratory patient interface structure being configured to sealingly engage a portion of the patient's face. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A patient interface system for a CPAP system, the patient interface system comprising: a patient interface structure configured to sealingly engage a portion of the patient's face; and a headgear system with the textured surface coating of claim 1. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The patient interface system of claim 3, wherein the patient interface structure comprises a pair of nasal pillows, a pair of nasal prongs, a nasal mask, or a full face mask. ### Claim 5 Headgear for a patient interface configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the headgear comprising: an elastomer in the form of a strap adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient's airways, wherein a first side of said elastomer includes a first region with a surface that is textured to increase surface roughness and reduce surface tension and/or friction between the strap and the patient, wherein the strap has a rounded edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The headgear of claim 5, wherein the rounded edge has a radius of curvature of about 0.1 to 5 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The headgear of claim 5, wherein the rounded edge includes a parting line, and the parting line is adapted to be out of contact with the patient's face when the headgear is engaged with the patient's head. ### Claim 8 Headgear for a patient interface configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the headgear comprising: an elastomer in the form of a strap adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient's airways, wherein a first side of said elastomer includes a first region with a surface that is textured to increase surface roughness and reduce surface tension and/or friction between the strap and the patient, wherein the first region has a Ra value of 1 to 7 μm. ### Claim 9 Headgear for a patient interlace configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the headgear comprising: an elastomer in the form of a strap adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient's airways, wherein a first side of said elastomer includes a first region with a surface that is textured to increase surface roughness and reduce surface tension and/or friction between the strap and the patient, wherein the first region extends over the entirety of the first side. ### Claim 10 Headgear for a patient interface configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the headgear comprising: an elastomer in the form of a strap adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient's airways, wherein a first side of said elastomer includes a first region with a surface that is textured to increase surface roughness and reduce surface tension and/or friction between the strap and the patient, wherein the textured surface increases the surface roughness of the portion of the elastomer within the first region. ### Claim 11 Headgear for a patient interface configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the headgear comprising: an elastomer in the form of a strap adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient's airways, wherein a first side of said elastomer includes a first region with a surface that is textured to increase surface roughness and reduce surface tension and/or friction between the strap and the patient, wherein the surface roughness of the elastomer within the first region is greater than the surface roughness of the elastomer outside of the first region. ### Claim 12 Headgear for a patient interface configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the headgear comprising: an elastomer in the form of a strap adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient's airways, wherein a first side of said elastomer includes a first region with a surface that is textured to increase surface roughness and reduce surface tension and/or friction between the strap and the patient, wherein the textured surface increases the surface roughness of the strap within the first region.