Patent ID: 8312883

Claim:
A nasal pillows mask assembly to provide a supply of air at positive pressure to the entrance of an airway of a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing comprising: i) a patient interface provided by a cushion assembly, the cushion assembly comprising: a base portion; a pair of nasal pillows extending from the base portion, each nasal pillow being structured to direct a sealing force to the underside of the nose of the patient and comprising a first concave portion having one end extending from the base portion, and a second sealing portion extending from the other end of the first concave portion, the second sealing portion having a narrower first end configured to enter the nasal passage of the patient's nose in use and a wider second end adjacent the first concave portion, the second sealing portion defining between the narrower first end and the wider second end a tapered surface upon at least part of which sealing is adapted to occur with a patient's nose on the underside of the nostrils in an area about the rim of the nostril openings in use, and a contour portion structured to contact and direct a stability force to the maxilla of the patient in use; ii) a patient interface retainer assembly configured to maintain in use the patient interface provided by the cushion assembly in position with respect to an underside of a patient's nose in a region about the nostrils and to provide in use the stability force to the maxilla of the patient, the retainer assembly comprising: a left side portion and a right side portion structured to extend in use from positions on either side of the cushion assembly along the left and right cheeks of the patient towards the left and right temples, the left and right side portions including respective left and right semi-rigid stiffeners structured to add rigidity to the nasal pillows retainer assembly in certain planes and directions, and left and right side straps joined to the respective left and right stiffeners, a coronal strap portion constructed from a soft, flexible fabric material and adapted to extend in use over the crown of the patient's head between the left and right side straps; a rear strap portion constructed from a soft, flexible fabric material and adapted to extend in use over the rear of the patient's head between the left and right side straps, and a tension adjusting arrangement for adjusting the tension in the patient interface retainer assembly, wherein the tension adjusting arrangement is operatively configured to adjust the stability force delivered by the contour portion against the maxilla of the patient.