Headgear for use with a patient interface device

A headgear and patient interface device comprising:

• 1) a patient interface device adapted to fit over a portion of the face of a patient and having a connector element;
• and
• 2) a headgear comprising:
• a) a headpiece;
• and
• b) a connecting strap attached to the headpiece and adapted to releasably connect the headgear to the connector element, wherein the headpiece comprises:
• (i) a plurality of contoured panels, each panel including an upper edge having a length, a lower edge having a length, an interior edge having a length, and an exterior edge having a length, wherein the interior edge is proximate to a top of a patient's head responsive to the headgear being worn by such a patient and the exterior edge is generally opposite the interior edge. wherein in each contoured panel the length of the upper edge is shorter than the length of the lower edge, wherein the interior edge is generally concave-shaped and the exterior edge is generally convex-shaped, and wherein contoured panels are arranged such that the interior edges of adjacent contoured panels face each other and are spaced apart from each other such that a gap is defined between the interior edges of adjacent contoured panels,
• (ii) a rear joining piece positionable along a rear portion of a patient's head, wherein the lower edge of each contoured panel is connected to the rear joining piece, and
• (iii) a front joining piece positionable along a front portion of such a patient's head, wherein the upper edge of each contoured panel is connected to the front joining piece, wherein the connecting strap extends from either the rear joining piece or the front joining piece.

A headgear and patient interface device comprising:

• 1) a patient interface device adapted to fit over a portion of the face of a patient and having a connector element;
• and
• 2) a headgear comprising:
• a) a headpiece, wherein the headpiece comprises:
• (i) contoured panels, each panel including an upper edge having a length and a lower edge having a length, the length of the upper edge is shorter than the length of the lower edge;
• (ii) a rear joining piece positionable along a rear portion of a patient's head;
• and
• (iii) a front joining piece positionable along a front portion of such a patient's head, wherein each of the contoured panels extend from the rear joining piece to the front joining piece;
• b) a connecting strap attached to the headpiece and adapted to releasably connect the headgear to the connector element;
• and
• c) a crossover strap extending from one of the contoured panels and adapted to extend to another one of the contoured panels.

A headgear and patient interface device comprising:

• 1) a patient interface device adapted to fit over a portion of the face of a patient and having a connector element;
• and
• 2) a headgear comprising:
• a) a headpiece formed from an elastomeric material, wherein the headpiece comprises:
• (i) contoured panels, each panel including an upper edge having a length, a lower edge having a length, an interior edge having a length, and an exterior edge having a length, wherein the interior edge is proximate to a top of a patient's head responsive to the headgear being worn by such a patient and the exterior edge is generally opposite the interior edge, wherein the length of the upper edge is shorter than the length of the lower edge, wherein the interior edge is generally concave-shaped and the exterior edge is generally convex-shaped, and wherein contoured panels are arranged such that the interior edges of adjacent contoured panels face each other and are spaced apart from each other such that a gap is defined between the interior edges of adjacent contoured panels;
• (ii) a rear joining piece positionable along a rear portion of a patient's head;
• and
• (iii) a front joining piece positionable along a front portion of such a patient's head, wherein each of the contoured panels extend from the rear joining piece to the front joining piece;
• and
• b) a connecting strap attached to the headpiece and adapted to releasably connect the headgear to the connector element.

A system for delivering a breathing gas to a patient comprising:

• 1) a gas flow generating device that produces a flow of gas;
• 2) a conduit having a first end portion operatively coupled to the gas flow generating device and a second end portion, wherein the conduit carries the flow of gas from the gas flow generating device during operation of the system;
• 3) a patient interface device coupled to the second end portion of the conduit, the patient interface device having a connector element;
• and
• 4) a headgear comprising:
• a) a headpiece;
• and
• b) a connecting strap attached to the headpiece and adapted to releasably connect the headgear to the connector element;
• wherein the headpiece comprises:
• (i) a rear joining piece positionable along a rear portion of a patient's head;
• (ii) a front joining piece positionable along a front portion of such a patient's head;
• and
• (iii) a first contoured panel and a second contoured panel, wherein each of the first and the second contoured panels extend from the rear joining piece to the front joining piece, each of the first and second contoured panels including an upper edge having a length, a lower edge having a length, an interior edge having a length, and an exterior edge having a length, wherein the interior edge is proximate to a top of a patient's head responsive to the headgear being worn by such a patient and the exterior edge is generally opposite the interior edge, wherein in each of the first and second contoured panels the length of the upper edge is shorter than the length of the lower edge, wherein each lower edge is connected to the rear joining panel and each upper edge is connected to the front joining panel, wherein the connecting strap extends from either the rear joining piece or the front joining piece, wherein the interior edge is generally concave-shaped and the exterior edge is generally convex-shaped, and wherein contoured panels are arranged such that the interior edges of adjacent contoured panels face each other and are spaced apart from each other such that a gap is defined between the interior edges of adjacent contoured panels.

A system for delivering a breathing gas to a patient comprising:

• 1) a gas flow generating device that produces a flow of gas;
• 2) a conduit having a first end portion operatively coupled to the gas flow generating device and a second end portion, wherein the conduit carries the flow of gas from the gas flow generating device during operation of the system;
• 3) a patient interface device coupled to the second end portion of the conduit, the patient interface device having a connector element;
• and
• 4) a headgear comprising:
• a) a headpiece, wherein the headpiece comprises:
• (i) a rear joining piece positionable along a rear portion of a patient's head;
• (ii) a front joining piece positionable along a front portion of such a patient's head;
• and
• (iii) a first contoured panel and a second contoured panel, wherein each of the first and the second contoured panels extend from the rear joining piece to the front joining piece, each of the first and second contoured panels including an upper edge having a length and a lower edge having a length, wherein in each of the first and second contoured panels the length of the upper edge is shorter than the length of the lower edge;
• b) a connecting strap attached to the headpiece and adapted to releasably connect the headgear to the connector element;
• and
• c) a crossover strap extending from one of contoured panels and adapted to extend to another one of the contoured panels.

A system for delivering a breathing gas to a patient comprising:

• 1) a gas flow generating device that produces a flow of gas;
• 2) a conduit having a first end portion operatively coupled to the gas flow generating device and a second end portion, wherein the conduit carries the flow of gas from the gas flow generating device during operation of the system;
• 3) a patient interface device coupled to the second end portion of the conduit, the patient interface device having a connector element;
• and
• 4) a headgear comprising:
• a) a headpiece formed form an elastomeric material, wherein the headpiece comprises:
• (i) a rear joining piece positionable along a rear portion of a patient's head;
• (ii) a front joining piece positionable along a front portion of such a patient's head;
• and
• (iii) a first contoured panel and a second contoured panel, wherein each of the first and the second contoured panels extend from the rear joining piece to the front joining piece, each of the first and second contoured panels including an upper edge having a length, a lower edge having a length, an interior edge having a length, and an exterior edge having a length, wherein the interior edge is proximate to a top of a patient's head responsive to the headgear being worn by such a patient and the exterior edge is generally opposite the interior edge, wherein in each of the first and second contoured panels the length of the upper edge is shorter than the length of the lower edge, wherein the interior edge is generally concave-shaped and the exterior edge is generally convex-shaped, and wherein contoured panels are arranged such that the interior edges of adjacent contoured panels face each other and are spaced apart from each other such that a gap is defined between the interior edges of adjacent contoured panels;
• and
• b) a connecting strap attached to the headpiece and adapted to releasably connect the headgear to the connector element.

A headgear for a patient interface device comprising:

• (a) a headpiece having:
• (i) a substantially frusto-conical shape defined by a first contoured panel and a second contoured panel, wherein each of the first and the second contoured panels extend from the rear joining piece to the front joining piece,
• (ii) a rear joining piece positionable along a rear portion of a patient's head, and
• (iii) a front joining piece positionable along a front portion of such a patient's head;
• (b) a connecting strap attached to the headpiece and adapted for releasably connecting the headgear to such a patient interface device;
• and
• (c) a crossover strap extending from one of the first or the second contoured panel and adapted to extend to a remaining other one of the first or the second contoured panel.

A headgear and patient interface device comprising:

• 1) a patient interface device adapted to fit over a portion of the face of a patient and having a connector element;
• and
• 2) a headgear comprising:
• a) a headpiece having:
• (i) a substantially frusto-conical shape defined by a first contoured panel and a second contoured panel,
• (ii) a rear joining piece positionable along a rear portion of a patient's head, and
• (iii) a front joining piece positionable along a front portion of such a patient's head, wherein each of the first and the second contoured panels extend from the rear joining piece to the front joining piece,
• b) a connecting strap attached to the headpiece and adapted to releasably connect the headgear to the connector element, and
• c) a crossover strap extending from one of the first or the second contoured panel and adapted to extend to a remaining other one of the first or the second contoured panel.

A system for delivering a breathing gas to a patient comprising:

• 1) a gas flow generating device that produces a flow of gas;
• 2) a conduit having a first end portion operatively coupled to the gas flow generating device and a second end portion, wherein the conduit carries the flow of gas from the gas flow generating device during operation of the system;
• 3) a patient interface device coupled to the second end portion of the conduit, the patient interface device having a connector element;
• 4) a headgear comprising:
• a) a headpiece having (i) a substantially frusto-conical shape defined by a first contoured panel and a second contoured panel, (ii) a rear joining piece positionable along a rear portion of a patient's head, and (iii) a front joining piece positionable along a front portion of such a patient's head, wherein each of the first and the second contoured panels extend from the rear joining piece to the front joining piece;
• b) a connecting strap attached to the headpiece and adapted to releasably connect the headgear to the connector element;
• and
• c) a crossover strap extending from one of the first or the second contoured panel and adapted to extend to a remaining other one of the first or the second contoured panel.