Patent ID: 6651663
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A nasal mask assembly comprising:(a) a seal member defined from a unitary piece of elastomeric material, the seal member including: an apex portion adapted to be disposed over a patient's nose, a first side portion adapted to overlie a left side of such a patient's nose, a second side portion adapted to overlie a right side of such a patient's nose, a nose receiving cavity, a first end portion, a second end portion generally opposite the first end portion, a first opening defined in the first end portion adapted to receive at least a portion of a nose of a patient such that nares of a patient communicate with the nose receiving cavity, a neck portion defined in the second end portion, a second opening defined in the neck portion, wherein the second opening communicates with the nose receiving cavity, side-walls extending between the second end portion and the first end portion and having a first thickness, and a reinforcement area having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, wherein the reinforcement area is integrally formed on the side walls and extends around a perimeter of the mask seal proximate to the second end portion, and wherein the reinforcement area includes a first saddle shaped portion disposed at the first side portion of the mask seal and a second saddle shaped portion disposed at the second side portion of the mask seal, wherein each of the first and the second saddle shaped portions includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the second end portion with a notch therebetween, and wherein a distal edge of the reinforcement area is continuous and spans a circumference of the mask seal; and (b) a conduit operatively coupled to the neck portion such that an interior of the conduit is in fluid communication with the second opening.