# US 11,077,272 B2 · Respiratory mask > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,272 B2 - Document ID: US11077272B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/961,138 - Filed: 2018-04-24 - Published: 2018-08-23 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-02 - Assignees: ResMed Pty Ltd - Applicants: ResMed Pty Ltd - Inventors: Lee James Veliss; Carmel Theresa Harrington; Philip Rodney Kwok; Philip John Gunning; Joshua Adam Gudiksen; Bart Jeremy Caffin; Richard Sokolov; Ian Frederick Johnson; Eric Siu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077272B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 16/0616: {with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure} - A61M 16/0622: {having an underlying cushion} - A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor} - A61M 16/0825: {with ball-sockets} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 2210/0618: Nose - A61M 2240/00: Specially adapted for neonatal use - 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 respiratory mask for use with a patient, and that is suited for use with children, includes a flexible cushion arranged to interface with and deliver air to the patient's nose. The cushion has a tube connection portion at one or both sides adjacent the patient's nares, the tube connection portion being arranged to connect to an air delivery tube. This location, plus the very low profile of the mask, allows a patient (e.g. an infant) to sleep on their face more comfortably. A more rigid support structure adjacent the cushion is provided to stabilize the cushion and prevent it from collapsing. Headgear is also provided and arranged for releasable attachment to the support structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A patient interface configured to deliver pressurized breathable gas to a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising: a flexible cushion forming at least a portion of a plenum chamber and configured to sealingly engage a portion of the patient's face including a portion of the patient's nose and/or a portion adjacent the patient's nose; a support structure that is more rigid than the flexible cushion and is pivotably attached to the flexible cushion; and at least one receptacle on a lateral side of the flexible cushion, each receptacle being in direct communication with an interior of the plenum chamber and having a lateral opening configured to receive an air delivery tube, wherein the at least one receptacle is more flexible at the lateral opening than the support structure, and wherein the flexible cushion is secured to the support structure on a lateral side of the support structure at the at least one receptacle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A patient interface assembly comprising: the patient interface of claim 1; and headgear configured to support the patient interface on the patient's head, wherein the headgear comprises a forward finger, a rear end of the forward finger branching into an upwardly and rearwardly extending upper rearward finger, and a downwardly and rearwardly extending lower rearward finger. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The patient interface assembly of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the headgear is associated with a rigidizer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The patient interface assembly of claim 3, wherein the rigidizer comprises the forward finger, the upper rearward finger, and the lower rearward finger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The patient interface of claim 2, wherein the upper rearward finger branches into a plurality of additional fingers, each being associated with a headgear strap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The patient interface assembly of claim 2, wherein the lower rearward finger comprises a headgear strap connection point, and the forward finger comprises a patient interface connection point. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The patient interface assembly of claim 2, further comprising the air delivery tube received by the receptacle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a projection configured to engage one of a plurality of recesses in the flexible cushion to select a position of the flexible cushion with respect to the support structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The patient interface of claim 8, wherein the plurality of recesses are spaced equidistantly from a pivot axis of the flexible cushion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The patient interface of claim 1, wherein a wall of the flexible cushion separates the support structure from an interior of the plenum chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the support structure is configured to connect to headgear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the support structure is detachable from the flexible cushion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The patient interface of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one receptacle is received within a respective opening in the support structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The patient interface of claim 1, further comprising a gas washout vent that is equidistant from each of the at least one receptacle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the flexible cushion is configured to pivot around a central longitudinal axis of the at least one receptacle. ### Claim 16 A patient interface configured to deliver pressurized breathable gas to a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising: a flexible cushion with a rear aperture configured to receive the patient's nose, a tube connection portion of the flexible cushion having a lateral opening configured to connect to an air delivery tube; a plenum chamber formed by the flexible cushion; a gas washout vent on a front wall of the flexible cushion that is opposite the rear aperture; a support structure attached to the flexible cushion on a lateral side of the flexible cushion at the tube connection portion, the support structure being more rigid than the tube connection portion of the flexible cushion at the lateral opening and being fluidly isolated from the interior of the plenum chamber and from the gas washout vent, the tube connection portion being movable relative to the support structure; and a pair of headgear connectors on the support structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the support structure comprises a pair of lateral portions connected by a bridge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The patient interface of claim 17, wherein the gas washout vent is located between the pair of lateral portions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the tube connection portion is arranged to at least partially decouple movement of the air delivery tube from the flexible cushion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The patient interface of claim 19, wherein the tube connection portion of the flexible cushion is rotatable relative to the support structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the flexible cushion is pivotably supported on the support structure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The patient interface of claim 21, wherein the support structure comprises a slot and the flexible cushion comprises an adjustment member extending through the slot and configured to be engagable by fingers for pivoting the flexible cushion relative to the support structure. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The patient interface of claim 22, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of indentations configured to frictionally engage the adjustment member. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) A patient interface assembly comprising: the patient interface of claim 16; and headgear configured to support the patient interface on the patient's head, wherein the headgear comprises a forward finger, a rear end of the forward finger branching into an upwardly and rearwardly extending upper rearward finger, and a downwardly and rearwardly extending lower rearward finger. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The patient interface assembly of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the headgear is associated with a rigidizer. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The patient interface assembly of claim 25, wherein the rigidizer comprises the forward finger, the upper rearward finger, and the lower rearward finger. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The patient interface assembly of claim 24, wherein each of the pair of headgear connectors comprises multiple connection points so that the headgear is repositionable relative to the support structure. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The patient interface assembly of claim 24, comprising the air delivery tube that is connectable to the flexible cushion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The patient interface assembly of claim 24, wherein the upper rearward finger branches into a plurality of additional fingers, each being associated with a headgear strap. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The patient interface assembly of claim 24, wherein the lower rearward finger comprises a headgear strap connection point, and the forward finger comprises a patient interface connection point. ### Claim 31 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the gas washout vent has plurality of vents. ### Claim 32 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the support structure surrounds tube connection portion. ### Claim 33 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein support structure is removable from the flexible cushion. ### Claim 34 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the entirety of the plenum chamber is formed by the flexible cushion. ### Claim 35 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the flexible cushion comprises more than one tube connection portion. ### Claim 36 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the patient interface is a nasal mask. ### Claim 37 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the gas washout vent has plurality of vents, wherein the support structure surrounds tube connection portion, wherein the support structure is removable from the flexible cushion, wherein the entirety of the plenum chamber is formed by the flexible cushion, wherein the flexible cushion comprises more than one tube connection portion, wherein support structure comprises a pair of lateral portions connected by a bridge, wherein the gas washout vent is located between the pair of lateral portions, and wherein the patient interface is a nasal mask. ### Claim 38 (depends on 16) The patient interface of claim 16, wherein the tube connection portion of the flexible cushion is configured to receive the air delivery tube or an elbow. ### Claim 39 A patient interface configured to deliver pressurized breathable gas to a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising: a flexible cushion forming at least a portion of a plenum chamber and configured to sealingly engage a portion of the patient's face including a portion of the patient's nose and/or a portion adjacent the patient's nose; a support structure that is more rigid than the flexible cushion and is attached to the flexible cushion; and at least one receptacle on a lateral side of the flexible cushion, each of the at least one receptacle being in direct communication with an interior of the plenum chamber and having a lateral opening configured to receive an air delivery tube, wherein the at least one receptacle is more flexible than the support structure at lateral opening and is arranged to decouple movement of the air delivery tube from the flexible cushion, and wherein the flexible cushion is secured to the support structure on a lateral side of the support structure at the at least one receptacle. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The patient interface of claim 39, wherein the at least one receptacle is configured to allow at least a partial rotation of the flexible cushion with respect to an air delivery tube. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The patient interface of claim 39, wherein the at least one receptacle comprises a pair of tube connection portions located on opposite sides of the patient interface. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The patient interface of claim 39, wherein the at least one receptacle is configured to extend through at least one opening in the support structure.