Positive-air-pressure machine conduit

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas under positive pressure to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface comprising:

• headgear having a pair of flexible side portions and a central portion having a top aperture, the top aperture being configured to be in communication with an air supply tube adapted to deliver a supply of breathable gas, the top aperture being adapted to be positioned on top of the patient's head when the patient interface is worn;
• a seal forming portion configured to direct the breathable gas to the patient's airway;
• the pair of flexible side portions being configured to support the seal forming portion in a desired position on the patient's face and to deliver the breathable gas to the seal forming portion in use, each said side portion having a conduit with a top portion in fluid communication with the top aperture and a bottom portion detachably connected to, and in fluid communication with, a lateral side of the seal forming portion, each said conduit being arranged to, in use, extend along and engage a respective side of the patient's head between the patient's eye and ear, wherein the pair of conduits, the central portion and the seal forming portion form a hollow ring with a ring-shaped gas flow path;
• and
• a socket joint that removably connects the bottom portion of each said conduit to the seal forming portion to provide the breathable gas to the seal forming portion, each said socket joint including 1) a socket portion having a socket aperture, a seal ring, and a seal interface connector at least partly inserted within the bottom portion, and 2) a complementary formation that is removably received through the socket aperture and engages with the seal interface connector and the seal ring, wherein each said seal ring sealingly engages with the complementary formation of the seal forming portion when the complementary formation is inserted into the socket portion,
• wherein the socket portion is formed on a bottom end of each bottom portion and the complimentary formation is formed as an extension of the seal forming portion,
• wherein each said seal interface connector has 1) a first end extending into the bottom end to a position within the respective conduit, and 2) a second end that removably receives therein the complimentary formation,
• wherein the seal ring is joined to the conduit, is positioned at the socket aperture, and extends in a radially inward direction from a circumferential wall of the socket portion;
• wherein the central portion is integrally formed with the pair of side portions to join the top portions of the conduits, the central portion and the conduits forming a unitary, one-piece construction of the same material, the central portion having an inner wall portion with an inner surface adapted in use to contact the top of the patient's head and an outer wall portion with an outer surface positioned opposite the inner surface, the outer surface of the outer wall portion having the top aperture,
• wherein the headgear further comprises a first joint between the central portion and a first one of the top portions and a second joint between the central portion and a second one of the top portions, the first and second joints being spaced from one another on opposite lateral sides of the central portion,
• wherein the patient interface further includes an air connector removably attached to the headgear at the central portion, the air connector being relatively rigid compared to the flexible side portions, the air connector having an interior portion being received within the top aperture between the inner and outer wall portions and between the first and second joints so that pressurized gas in use is delivered between the inner and outer walls of the central portion and into the side portions, said air connector further comprising an exterior portion protruding from the top aperture, the interior portion of the air connector being positioned within the ring-shaped gas flow path between the first and second joints and the exterior portion being positioned outside of the ring-shaped gas flow path,
• wherein the entire length of the central portion between the first and second joints is configured to continuously engage the patient's head along the top of the patient's head to hold the air connector in a stable position at the top of the patient's head,
• wherein the air connector includes a swivel coupling configured to be pivotably connected to the supply tube,
• wherein the headgear further comprises a rear strap connected to each said conduit at a rear strap joint positioned superior to the patient's ear, each said rear strap extending rearwardly from the rear strap joint to engage the occiput of the patient's head at a position superior to the patient's ear, and
• wherein the headgear includes at least a first flexible bellows configured to reduce the extent to which drag forces from the supply tube are transferred from the air connector to the headgear, the at least first flexible bellows being positioned proximate the central portion and superior to each said rear strap joint and being configured to engage a portion of the patient's head superior to the rear strap joint, and wherein each said conduit includes a section below the rear strap joint that does not have a bellows.

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas under positive pressure to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface comprising:

• a gas connector configured to deliver a supply of breathable gas, the gas connector being adapted to be stably positioned at the top of the patient's head when the patient interface is worn;
• a seal forming portion configured direct the breathable gas to the patient's airway;
• a pair of flexible side conduits of elastic material and configured to support the seal forming portion in a desired position on the patient's face, each said flexible side conduit configured to deliver at least a portion of the breathable gas to the seal forming portion in use, each said side conduit having a top portion in fluid communication with the gas connector and a bottom portion connected to, and in fluid communication with, a lateral side of the seal forming portion, each said side conduit being arranged to, in use, extend along and engage a respective side of the patient's head between the patient's eye and ear;
• and
• a central portion integrally formed with the pair of side conduits to join the top portions of the side conduits, the central portion and the pair of side conduits forming a unitary one-piece construction of the same material, wherein the central portion is configured to engage the top of the patient's head in use to stably position and hold the gas connector at the top of the patient's head, the central portion having an inner wall portion to engage the top of the patient's head and an outer wall portion,
• wherein the seal forming portion, the conduits and the central portion form a ring with a ring-shaped gas path, and at least a part of the gas connector that is relatively harder than the central portion is positioned within the ring-shaped gas path and between the inner and outer wall portions, and another part of the gas connector is positioned outside the ring-shaped gas path.

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas under positive pressure to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface comprising:

• a seal forming portion configured to direct the breathable gas to the patient's airway;
• a pair of flexible side portions of elastic material and configured to support the seal forming portion in a desired position on the patient's face, each said flexible side portion configured to deliver at least a portion of the breathable gas to the seal forming portion in use, each said flexible side portion providing a conduit having a top portion and a bottom portion detachably connected to, and in fluid communication with, a lateral side of the seal forming portion, each said conduit being arranged to, in use, extend along and engage a respective side of the patient's head between the patient's eye and ear;
• a central portion connecting the top portions of the conduits, the central portion and the conduits forming a one-piece construction of the same material, the central portion having an inner wall portion to engage the top of the patient's head and an outer wall portion having an aperture;
• a gas connector configured to deliver the breathable gas to the central portion via the aperture, the gas connector being adapted to be positioned on top of the patient's head when the patient interface is worn, wherein the seal forming portion, the central portion and the conduits at least partly form a ring with a ring-shaped gas path, and at least a part of the gas connector that is relatively harder than the conduits is positioned within the ring-shaped gas path and between the inner and outer wall portions, and another part of the gas connector that is relatively harder than the conduits is positioned outside the ring-shaped gas path;
• and
• a socket joint that removably connects the bottom portion of each said conduit to the seal forming portion to provide the breathable gas to the seal forming portion, each said socket joint including 1) a socket portion having a socket aperture, a seal ring, and a seal interface connector at least partly inserted within the bottom portion, and 2) a complementary formation that is removably received through the socket aperture and detachably engages with the seal interface connector and the seal ring, wherein each said seal ring sealingly engages with the complementary formation of the seal forming portion when the complementary formation is inserted into the socket portion.

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas under positive pressure to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface comprising:

• conduit headgear having a pair of flexible side conduits and a central portion having an inner wall portion to engage the top of the patient's head and an outer wall portion having a top aperture, wherein the side conduits and the central portion forming a one-piece construction of the same material;
• a seal forming portion configured to receive the breathable gas from the conduit headgear and direct the breathable gas to the patient's airway, wherein the pair of flexible side conduits are configured to support the seal forming portion in a desired position on the patient's face, each said side conduit comprising a top portion in fluid communication with the top aperture and a bottom portion connected to, and in fluid communication with, a lateral side of the seal forming portion to deliver the breathable gas to the seal forming portion, each said side conduit being arranged to, in use, extend along and engage a respective side of the patient's head between the patient's eye and ear;
• a gas connector attached to the central portion at the top aperture, the gas connector being configured to connect to a gas supply tube adapted to deliver a supply of breathable gas;
• and
• a rear strap connected to the conduit headgear at a rear strap joint, said rear strap extending in a posterior direction to engage the occiput of the patient's head,
• wherein the conduit headgear includes at least a first section with at least a first flexible bellows, and a second section that does not include flexible bellows, each of the first and second sections being having a curved inner surface shaped to engage the patient's head in use, at least the at least first flexible bellows being configured to at least partly reduce the extent to which drag forces from the supply tube are transferred from the gas connector to the side conduits, and
• wherein the seal forming portion, the central portion and the side conduits form a ring with a ring-shaped gas path, and at least a part of the gas connector that is relatively harder than the central portion is inserted into the top aperture and positioned within the ring-shaped gas path and between the inner and outer wall portions, and an exterior part of the gas connector that is relatively harder than the central portion is positioned outside the ring-shaped gas path.

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas under positive pressure to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface comprising:

• conduit headgear having a pair of flexible side conduits and a central portion having an inner wall portion to engage the top of the patient's head and an outer wall portion having a top aperture, wherein the side conduits and the central portion form a one-piece construction of the same material;
• a seal forming portion configured to receive the breathable gas from the conduit headgear and direct the breathable gas to the patient's airway, wherein the pair of flexible side conduits are configured to support the seal forming portion in a desired position on the patient's face, each said side conduit comprising a top portion in fluid communication with the top aperture and a bottom portion connected to, and in fluid communication with, a lateral side of the seal forming portion to deliver the breathable gas to the seal forming portion, each said side conduit being arranged to, in use, extend along and engage a respective side of the patient's head between the patient's eye and ear;
• a gas connector attached to the central portion at the top aperture, the gas connector being configured to connect to a gas supply tube adapted to deliver breathable gas to the central portion;
• and
• wherein the seal forming portion, the central portion and the side conduits form a ring with a ring-shaped gas path, and at least a part of the gas connector that is relatively harder than the central portion is inserted into the top aperture and positioned within the ring-shaped gas path and between the inner and outer wall portions, and an exterior part of the gas connector that is relatively harder than the central portion is positioned outside the ring-shaped gas path.