# US 11,305,085 B2 · Mask system with snap-fit shroud > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,085 B2 - Document ID: US11305085B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/474,317 - Filed: 2021-09-14 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-04 - Assignees: ResMed Pty Ltd - Applicants: ResMed Pty Ltd - Inventors: Eva Ng; David James Lockwood; Jamie Graeme Wehbeh; Zoran Valcic; Errol Savio Alex D'Souza; Matthew Eves; Mahsita Sari - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305085B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0622: {having an underlying cushion} - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps} - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 16/0611: {with a gusset portion} - A61M 16/0616: {with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure} - A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor} - A61M 16/0694: {Chin straps} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/0858: {Pressure sampling ports} - A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes} - A61M 16/20: Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices - A61M 16/0633: {with forehead support} - A61M 16/0825: {with ball-sockets} - A61M 16/0841: {for sampling} - A61M 16/208: {Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves} - A61M 2016/0661: {with customised shape} - A61M 2202/0225: Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide - A61M 2209/06: Packaging for specific medical equipment - 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 shroud for a mask system includes a retaining portion structured to retain a frame, a pair of upper headgear connectors each including an elongated arm and a slot at the free end of the arm adapted to receive a headgear strap, and a pair of lower headgear connectors each adapted to attach to a headgear strap. The retaining portion, the upper headgear connectors, and the lower headgear connectors are integrally formed as a one piece structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mask system comprising: a cushion module comprising: a cushion constructed of a flexible material to form a seal with a patient's face in use, wherein the cushion is constructed to engage along a nasal bridge region of the patient's lace when in use, the cushion including a concertina section provided in a nasal bridge region of the cushion, the concertina section including one or more folds that provide a degree of flexibility or movement to the cushion, and a frame connected to the cushion and forming a breathing chamber, the frame constructed from a more rigid material than the cushion, and the frame including a circular frame opening configured to in-use allow a flow of breathable gas into the breathing chamber; a shroud module constructed from a more rigid material than the cushion and including a circular opening, the shroud module including a forehead support, and the shroud module including headgear connectors, wherein an underside of the shroud module faces the breathing chamber and includes a protrusion structured to be received within a slot on the frame, the protrusion being spaced inboard of an outer edge of the shroud module and extending towards the breathing chamber when received within the slot, an exterior of the shroud module structured to cover the protrusion and the slot when the protrusion is received in the slot; headgear for holding the cushion module in a sealing position in order to enable the flow of breathable gas at positive pressure to be delivered to the patient's airways, the headgear including a pair of upper straps adapted to contact the patient's head superior to the patient's ears and a pair of lower straps adapted to contact the patient's head inferior to the patient's ears, the pair of upper straps and the pair of lower straps removably connected to the shroud module; and an elbow module constructed from a more rigid material than the cushion, the elbow module comprising: a first end being rotatably engaged with the shroud module to allow for 360° of relative rotation between the elbow module and the shroud module, and a second end adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube to deliver breathable gas to the patient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the cushion is a full-face cushion adapted to engage the patient's face generally along nasal bridge, cheek, and lower lip regions of the patient's face, and wherein a port of the elbow module is selectively closed by a flap portion of an anti-asphyxia valve depending on a presence of pressurized gas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mask system of claim 2, wherein the elbow module includes a slot to receive the flap portion of the anti-asphyxia valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The mask system of claim 2, wherein the shroud module includes a receiving hole, superior to the circular opening, for aligning with a vent arrangement of the frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The mask system of claim 2, wherein a plurality of vent holes are oriented relative to an axis through the circular frame opening at an angle of 45° on an outer surface of the frame in order to direct exhausted air away from the patient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The mask system of claim 5, wherein each hole of the plurality of vent holes is contoured or tapered along its length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the cushion is a nasal cushion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The mask system of claim 7, wherein the elbow module further includes a vent arrangement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The mask system of claim 7, wherein the protrusion includes a first tang and a second tang oriented generally transverse to the first tang. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein each upper strap of the pair of upper straps includes a hook and loop material, and each lower strap of the pair of lower straps includes a hook and loop material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the headgear connectors include lower headgear connectors that extend from a lower end of the shroud module, the pair of lower straps adapted to connect to the lower headgear connectors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mask system of claim 11, wherein each lower strap of the pair of lower straps includes a clip adapted to couple with the lower headgear connectors of the shroud module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the frame and the cushion are co-molded with one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the headgear connectors are molded to the shroud module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elbow module has a distal shoulder adapted to extend at an edge of the frame to retain the elbow module to the frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the frame further includes a collar projecting from a surface of the frame and surrounding the circular frame opening, the first end of the elbow module being releasably and rotatably engaged to the collar with a snap-fit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the headgear further includes a pair of rear straps adapted to pass behind the patient's head. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the shroud is non-rotatably mounted on an outer surface of the frame with a tight, conforming fit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elbow module passes through the circular opening of the shroud module, the first end passes through the circular frame opening and being releasably and rotatably engaged to the frame with a snap-fit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the cushion is a nasal cushion, the frame and the nasal cushion are co-molded with one another, the frame further includes a collar projecting from a surface of the frame and surrounding the circular frame opening; the elbow module further includes a vent arrangement; lower headgear connectors extend from a lower end of the shroud module, and the lower headgear connectors are molded to the shroud module; the pair of upper straps include a hook and loop material, and the pair of lower straps include a hook and loop material and are adapted to connect to the lower headgear connectors; and the headgear further includes a pair of rear straps adapted to pass behind the patient's head. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The mask system of claim 20, wherein the first end of the elbow module is releasably and rotatably engaged to the collar with a snap-fit, the first end of the elbow module has a distal shoulder adapted to extend at an edge of the frame to retain the elbow module to the frame. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The mask system of claim 1, wherein the cushion is a full-face cushion adapted to engage the patient's face generally along nasal bridge, cheek, and lower lip regions of the patient's face, frame and the full-face cushion are co-molded with one another, the frame further includes a collar projecting from a surface of the frame and surrounding the circular frame opening; a port of the elbow module is selectively closed by a flap portion of an anti-asphyxia valve depending on a presence of pressurized gas, the elbow module includes a slot to receive the flap portion of the anti-asphyxia valve; the shroud module includes a receiving hole, superior to the circular opening, for aligning with a vent arrangement of the frame; lower headgear connectors extend from a lower end of the shroud module, and the lower headgear connectors are molded to the shroud module; the pair of upper straps include a hook and loop material, and the pair of lower straps include a hook and loop material and are adapted to connect to the lower headgear connectors; and the headgear further includes a pair of rear straps adapted to pass behind the patient's head. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The mask system of claim 22, wherein the first end of the elbow module is releasably and rotatably engaged to the collar with a snap-fit, the first end of the elbow module has a distal shoulder adapted to extend at an edge of the frame to retain the elbow module to the frame. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A device for treating sleep disorder breathing, the device comprising: the mask system of claim 1; the air delivery tube connected to the second end; and a flow generator for delivering pressurized breathable gas to the patient wearing the mask system via the air delivery tube, the flow generator being adapted to deliver the pressurized breathable gas to the patient's airways at about 2-30 cm H2O above atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 25 A mask system comprising: a cushion module comprising: a cushion constructed of a flexible material to form a seal with a patient's face in use, wherein the cushion k constructed to engage along a nasal bridge region of the patient's lace when in use, and a frame connected to the cushion and forming a breathing chamber, the frame constructed from a more rigid material than the cushion, and the frame including a frame opening configured to in-use allow a flow of breathable gas into the breathing chamber; a shroud module constructed from a more rigid material than the cushion and including a shroud opening, the shroud module including a forehead support, and the shroud module including headgear connectors, wherein an underside of the shroud module faces the breathing chamber and includes a protrusion structured to be received within a slot on the frame, the protrusion being spaced inboard of an outer edge of the shroud module and extending towards the breathing chamber when received within the slot, an exterior of the shroud module structured to cover the protrusion and the slot when the protrusion is received in the slot; headgear for holding the cushion module in a sealing position in order to enable the flow of breathable gas at positive pressure to be delivered to the patient's airways, the headgear including a pair of upper straps adapted to contact the patient's head superior to the patient's ears and a pair of lower straps adapted to contact the patient's head inferior to the patient's ears, the pair of upper straps and the pair of lower straps removably connected to the shroud module; and an elbow module comprising: a first end being rotatably engaged with the shroud module to allow for 360° of relative rotation between the elbow module and the shroud module, and a second end adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube to deliver breathable gas to the patient. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The mask system of claim 25, wherein the cushion is a nasal cushion and includes a concertina section provided in a nasal bridge region of the cushion, the concertina section including one or more folds that provide a degree of flexibility or movement to the cushion, the frame and the nasal cushion are co-molded with one another, the frame further includes a collar projecting from a surface of the frame and surrounding the frame opening, wherein the frame opening is circular; the elbow module is constructed from a more rigid material than the cushion and further includes a vent arrangement; lower headgear connectors extend from a lower end of the shroud module, and the lower headgear connectors are molded to the shroud module; the pair of upper straps include a hook and loop material, and the pair of lower straps include a hook and loop material and are adapted to connect to the lower headgear connectors; and the headgear further includes a pair of rear straps adapted to pass behind the patient's head. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The mask system of claim 26, wherein the first end of the elbow module is releasably and rotatably engaged to the collar with a snap-fit, the first end of the elbow module has a distal shoulder adapted to extend at an edge of the frame to retain the elbow module to the frame. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The mask system of claim 25, wherein the cushion is a full-face cushion and includes a concertina section provided in a nasal bridge region of the cushion, the concertina section including one or more folds that provide a degree of flexibility or movement to the cushion, the full-face cushion is adapted to engage the patient's face generally along nasal bridge, cheek, and lower lip regions of the patient's face, frame and the full-face cushion are co-molded with one another, the frame further includes a collar projecting from a surface of the frame and surrounding the frame opening, wherein the frame opening is circular; a port of the elbow module is selectively closed by a flap portion of an anti-asphyxia valve depending on a presence of pressurized gas, the elbow module includes a slot to receive the flap portion of the anti-asphyxia valve, and the elbow module is constructed from a more rigid material than the cushion; the shroud module includes a receiving hole, superior to the shroud opening, for aligning with a vent arrangement of the frame; lower headgear connectors extend from a lower end of the shroud module, and the lower headgear connectors are molded to the shroud module; the pair of upper straps include a hook and loop material, and the pair of lower straps include a hook and loop material and are adapted to connect to the lower headgear connectors; and the headgear further includes a pair of rear straps adapted to pass behind the patient's head. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The mask system of claim 28, wherein the first end of the elbow module is releasably and rotatably engaged to the collar with a snap-fit, the first end of the elbow module has a distal shoulder adapted to extend at an edge of the frame to retain the elbow module to the frame.