Patent ID: 7904193

Claim:
A method for selecting a facial seal for use in a breathing assistance system, comprising: obtaining a plurality of three-dimensional contour data sets, each three-dimensional contour data set comprising data from images of three-dimensional exterior facial contours of a plurality of test subjects having a common demographic characteristic, such that each three-dimensional contour data set corresponds to one or more different demographic characteristics; using a computer, processing each three-dimensional contour data set to generate a characteristic three-dimensional structure for a sample facial seal corresponding to that three-dimensional contour data set; for each three-dimensional contour data set, fabricating a sample facial seal based on the characteristic three-dimensional structure generated based on that three-dimensional contour data set, such that a plurality of sample facial seals are fabricated, each having a different shape corresponding to one or more different demographic characteristics; obtaining a set of data representing a three-dimensional structure of an exterior surface contour of a patient's face; and automatically selecting a particular one of a plurality of sample facial seals having different shapes, the particular facial seal selected to substantially conform to the patient's face based at least on the set of facial data, including: using a computer, automatically comparing the set of facial data to the plurality of three-dimensional contour data sets, each three-dimensional contour data set representing a three-dimensional structure of one of the plurality of sample facial seals; and using the computer, automatically selecting the particular facial seal from the plurality of sample facial seals based at least on the comparison.