Mask system

A mask system to deliver pressurized air to a patient for treating sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising:

• a first air-delivery conduit connectable with a patient seal assembly at a first conduit connection on a first side of the patient seal assembly, the mask system structured so that the first air-delivery conduit interfaces with the first conduit connection at an upward angle with respect to a horizontal dimension so that the first air-delivery conduit angles upward from the patient seal assembly to pass above a first ear of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient;
• a second air-delivery conduit connectable with the patient seal assembly at a second conduit connection on a second side of the patient seal assembly opposite from the first side of the patient seal assembly, the mask system structured so that the second air-delivery conduit interfaces with the second conduit connection at an upward angle with respect to the horizontal dimension so that the second air-delivery conduit angles upward from the patient seal assembly to pass above a second ear of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient;
• and
• a headgear assembly attachable to the first air-delivery conduit and the second air-delivery conduit to maintain the patient seal assembly on a face of the patient, the headgear assembly including:
• an upper headgear portion connectable with the first air-delivery conduit at a first location above the first ear of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, and connectable with the second air-delivery conduit at a second location above the second ear of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, and
• a lower headgear portion connectable with a first headgear connection on the first side of the patient seal assembly, and connectable with a second headgear connection on the second side of the patient seal assembly, the mask system structured so that the lower headgear portion wraps around a back of a neck of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient such that a first part of the lower headgear portion passes below the first ear of the patient on a first side of the head of the patient and such that a second part of the lower headgear portion passes below the second ear of the patient on a second side of the head of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the lower headgear portion and the upper headgear portion being attached to one another at a joined headgear portion that is located at a back of a head of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the first headgear connection and the second headgear connection being spaced below the first conduit connection and the second conduit connection,
• wherein the first air-delivery conduit and the second air-delivery conduit are positioned to connect with the patient seal assembly at locations above all connections between the headgear assembly and the patient seal assembly when the mask system is worn by the patient and viewed from in front of the patient.