Patent ID: 6959710

Claim:
A patient interface device comprising: (a) a collar defined from a relatively rigid material, the collar having an aperture defined in a central portion thereof, and a plurality of headgear attachment points disposed at a perimeter of the collar, wherein the aperture is defined in a first plane, and wherein at least one of the plurality of headgear attachment points is defined in a second plane that is disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to the first plane; (b) an elbow coupling rotatably attached to the collar such that the elbow coupling rotates relative to the collar; and (c) a cushion defined from a pliable material, having a generally triangular shape, and operatively attached to the collar such that the elbow coupling and the cushion are disposed on opposite sides of the collar, wherein a nose receiving cavity is defined in the cushion, and wherein the cushion comprises: (1) a proximal portion operatively coupled to the collar and having a first opening defined therein, wherein the first opening and the aperture provide a path for communicating the nose receiving cavity with an interior of the elbow coupling, and (2) a side wall extending from the proximal portion and terminating generally at a distal portion that is adapted to contact a patient responsive to the patient interface device being donned by a patient, wherein the distal portion includes a second opening defined therein that is sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a nose of such a patient so that nares of such a patient communicate with the nose receiving cavity, and wherein the distal portion of the side wall provides a rounded patient portion.