Patent ID: 9254370
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. A mask frame for a mask assembly useful for treating sleep disordered breathing of a patient, the frame comprising: a one-piece main body of molded polycarbonate material; and a vent portion adapted to allow washout of gases exhaled by the patient, the vent portion being provided to the main body, the vent portion including a plurality of holes arranged in the polycarbonate material, wherein all of the holes extend through the molded material and are positioned on a continuous, substantially planar portion of the main body, the substantially planar portion containing all of the holes being positioned and aligned between an apex of the main body and an aperture to receive an elbow, the aperture being positioned below the apex, the continuous, substantially planar portion containing all of the holes being centered at the apex, wherein at least a part of the substantially planar portion is not substantially recessed with respect to surrounding portions of the frame, wherein the holes of the vent portion are grouped on the substantially planar portion so that gas exiting the holes will avoid interference with the frame, thereby helping to reduce noise; wherein the substantially planar portion is positioned on the main body at a location generally corresponding to a nasal bridge of a patient when the mask frame is positioned on a face of the patient; wherein the main body has a vertical longitudinal axis and the holes are arranged in at least one vertical column aligned with or parallel to the longitudinal axis; and wherein the vent portion includes a pair of intermediate columns parallel to but horizontally offset from the longitudinal axis and a flanking column adjacent to and vertically offset from the respective intermediate column, each said column having at least 6 holes.