Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US10029063B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 14:25:45+00:00

Document:
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/372,792 filed Feb. 14, 2012, now allowed, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12/478,537 filed Jun. 4, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,291,906, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/058,659 filed Jun. 4, 2008 and 61/080,847 filed Jul. 15, 2008, and this application also claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/457,272, filed Feb. 16, 2011 and 61/552,064 filed Oct. 27, 2011, each of the above applications being incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The primary headgear includes at least one arm 70 extending from the center section 60. Each arm 70 may extend away from the center section 60 linearly, or in a curved or curled fashion, and/or at an angle β (e.g., about 20°-140° from horizontal) relative to the center section as shown in the variants in FIGS. 10-21. This arrangement may enable arms 70 to be positioned on the flares or sides of the patient's nose in use, rather than positioning on the patient's cheeks or top lip. Alternatively, or in addition, each arm 70 may include a connection 75 provided between the center section 60 and the arm 70 (see for example FIGS. 12 and 15). Connection 75 may be a portion of fabric or other material that forms a bridge between the center section 60 and the arm 70. Connection 75 may include, for example, supplemental attachments for receiving a supplemental headgear. For example, connection 75 may include an eye and a supplemental headgear may include a hook, the eye adapted to receive the hook. Alternative removably attachable mechanisms may be possible, for example hook and loop, buttons, etc.
wherein the sealing portion of the patient interface extends through an aperture in the suspension system so that the suspension system supports the patient interface.
7. A patient interface system according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to be supported on the patient's nasal bridge, and wherein the patient interface is configured to only seal under the patient's nose and is suspended from the adhesive layer by the suspension system.
9. A patient interface system according to claim 1, wherein the patient interface and the adhesive layer are configured to engage different portions of the patient's face when the patient interface system is mounted on the patient's face.
10. A patient interface system according to claim 1, wherein a rim of the aperture supports the patient interface.
11. A patient interface system according to claim 1, wherein the patient interface and the suspension system are removably attached to each other.
13. A patient interface system according to claim 12, wherein the patient interface system does not include polycarbonate material.
14. A patient interface system according to claim 12, wherein the suspension system comprises an adhesive pad adapted to be positioned on the patient's face and a primary headgear connecting the patient interface to the suspension system.
15. A patient interface system according to claim 14, wherein the primary headgear is configured to be supported on the patient's nasal bridge.
16. A patient interface system according to claim 15, wherein the primary headgear comprises the aperture through which said sealing portion of the patient interface extends.
17. A patient interface system according to claim 16, wherein the primary headgear wraps around the patient interface in a sling-like fashion.
18. A patient interface system according to claim 12, wherein the patient interface system does not include a hard shell or frame.
20. A patient interface system according to claim 19, wherein the suspension system comprises an adhesive pad adapted to be positioned on the patient's face and a primary headgear connecting the patient interface to the suspension system.
21. A patient interface system according to claim 20, wherein the patient interface comprises elastomeric material.
22. A patient interface system according to claim 21, wherein the primary headgear comprises a flexible composite material.
23. A patient interface system according to claim 22, wherein the flexible composite material comprises at least one of laminated foam, nonwoven fabric and mesh.
24. A patient interface system according to claim 19, wherein the patient interface and the suspension system are configured to inter-engage and/or interlace with one another without requiring a hard frame or shell and without requiring one or more separate clips.
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References: Application No. 2009202232
 Application No. 200910163947
 Application No. 2009
 Application No. 07784697
 Application No. 589634
 Application No. 09
 Application No. 589634
 Application No. 2003275762
 Application No. 09161984
 Application No. 2009
 Application No. 200910163947
 Application No. 200910163947
 Application No. 03810331