Patent ID: 8011369

Claim:
A connector comprising: a body portion including a mask end adapted to connect in fluid communication with the interior of a respiratory mask and a supply conduit end disposed at an angle to the mask end and adapted to communicate with the outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit; and a cap portion connected to an exterior surface of the body portion, the cap portion including an interior surface spaced apart from the exterior surface, the body portion exterior surface and the cap portion interior surface including a gas washout vent passage therebetween, the gas washout vent passage having an inlet adjacent to, or forming part of, the mask end in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with the atmosphere, the outlet including an exterior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with the exterior surface of the body portion, the vent outlet is disposed on the side of the connector remote the mask end, has a generally part-annular cross-section and is adapted to direct the washout gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mask end and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the supply conduit end towards the supply conduit end.