Mask system

A mask system for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient, comprising:

• a nares portion adapted to form a seal with the patient's nares;
• a mouth portion including a mouth chamber and a mouth sealing portion adapted to form a seal with the patient's mouth;
• and
• an inlet conduit connected to at least one of the nares portion and the mouth portion to deliver pressurized, breathable gas to the patient,
• wherein the nares portion and the mouth portion are adapted to connect to each other, and the mouth portion is adapted to selectively function in both a first configuration where at least a portion of the pressurized, breathable gas is delivered to the patient's mouth and in a second configuration where the mouth portion functions as a mouth seal that prevents any of the pressurized, breathable gas from being delivered to the patient's mouth.

A method of providing a mask system kit for delivering respiratory therapy to a patient, the method comprising:

• providing a nares portion adapted to form a seal with the patient's nares;
• providing a mouth portion including a mouth chamber and a mouth sealing portion adapted to form a seal with the patient's mouth, the mouth chamber including an opening adapted to selectively receive pressurized, breathable gas;
• and
• providing an inlet conduit connectable to at least one of the nares portion and the mouth chamber to deliver the pressurized, breathable gas,
• wherein, at the option of the patient, the mask system is adapted to selectively utilize the nares portion and/or the mouth portion in at least first and second modes, the first mode utilizing the nares portion and the mouth portion to provide the respiratory therapy to the patient's flares, wherein the mouth portion is configured to provide the respiratory therapy to the patient's mouth or to seal the mouth portion, and in the second mode utilizing the nares portion to provide the respiratory therapy to the patient's nares and not utilizing the mouth portion as a seal or to deliver respiratory therapy.

A method of converting a mask system between first and second modes, the mask system for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient, the method comprising:

• providing a nares portion adapted to form a seal with the patient's nares;
• providing a mouth portion including a mouth chamber and a mouth sealing portion adapted to form a seal with the patient's mouth, the mouth chamber including an opening adapted to selectively receive pressurized, breathable gas;
• and
• assembling the mask system in the first mode utilizing the nares portion and the mouth portion to provide the respiratory therapy to the patient's nares, utilizing the mouth portion to provide the respiratory therapy to the patient's mouth or utilizing the mouth portion as a mouth seal;
• and
• converting the mask system in the second mode utilizing the nares portion to provide the respiratory therapy to the patient's nares and not utilizing the mouth portion.

A system kit adapted to convert a nares only device for delivering respiratory therapy to a patient into a nares and mouth device for delivering respiratory therapy to a patient, comprising:

• a mouth portion including a mouth chamber and a mouth sealing portion adapted to form a seal with the patient's mouth, the mouth chamber including an opening adapted to selectively receive pressurized, breathable gas, the mouth portion adapted to function with the nares only device as a nares and mouth device;
• a plug adapted to connect to either the opening in the mouth chamber or an opening in the nares only device;
• and
• headgear adapted to secure at least the mouth portion to the patient's head.