Patent ID: 9364632
Filing Date: 2016-06-14
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. An interface system for use in providing a flow of pressurized gas to a patient, the interface system comprising: a patient interface structured to engage a nasal and/or oral orifice of a patient; a conduit coupled to the patient interface, the conduit being disposed generally about a central axis and being structured to communicate the flow of pressurized gas to the patient interface; and a valve mechanism operatively coupled to the patient interface or the conduit, the valve mechanism being structured to selectively impede the flow of pressurized gas to an airway of such a patient, wherein the valve mechanism includes a manually manipulated element to enable the patient to actuate the valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism comprises a gate member selectively moveable between a first position in which the gate member is structured to generally not impede the flow of pressurized gas to the patient and a second position in which the gate member is structured to impede the flow of pressurized gas to the patient, and wherein the gate member is biased toward the first position, wherein the manually manipulated element comprises a switch portion adapted to move the gate member between the first position and the second position upon engagement of the switch portion by the patient, and wherein the switch portion is: (a) rotatable about another axis oriented generally perpendicular to the central axis, (b) generally slidable in a direction parallel to the central axis, or (c) rotatable about the central axis.