Breathing assistance apparatus

Abstract

A CPAP system for supplying humidified gases to a user is disclosed in which various interfaces are described for gas delivery. A mask cushion including a deformable cushion and thin sheath is described.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An elbow connector adapted to connect a patient interface with a supply of gases, the elbow connector comprising:
 a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, the hollow body defining an air flow channel, the inlet configured to be in fluid communication with the supply of gases in use and the outlet configured to be in fluid communication with the patient interface in use;   a wall of the hollow body defining the air flow channel, the wall being cylindrical, the cylindrical wall having a proximal portion closest to a user and a distal portion furthest from the user, the cylindrical wall also having a curved portion that bends in a first direction such that a length of the distal portion is longer than a length of the proximal portion, the distal portion comprising a flexible thin portion along the curved portion of the cylindrical wall such that the flexible thin portion is curved in two dimensions; and   the thin portion comprising a plurality of apertures configured to externally vent gases exhaled by the user.   
     
     
         3 . The elbow connector of  claim 2 , wherein the elbow connector has at least a portion formed from polycarbonate. 
     
     
         4 . The elbow connector of  claim 2 , wherein the elbow connector has at least a portion formed from Hytrel plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The elbow connector of  claim 2 , wherein the apertures have rounded peripheries. 
     
     
         6 . The elbow connector of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to reduce noise caused by venting of the gases exhaled by the user. 
     
     
         7 . The elbow connector of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged in a circle. 
     
     
         8 . The elbow connector of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible thin portion is circular. 
     
     
         9 . An elbow connector adapted to connect a patient interface with a supply of gases, the elbow connector comprising:
 a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, the hollow body defining an air flow channel, the inlet configured to be in fluid communication with the supply of gases in use and the outlet configured to be in fluid communication with the patient interface in use,   the hollow body comprising a thin portion positioned along a curved portion of the elbow connector, the thin portion being thinner in cross section than an adjacent portion of the hollow body,   the thin portion comprising a plurality of apertures configured to externally vent gases exhaled by the user.   
     
     
         10 . The elbow connector of  claim 9 , wherein the material that forms the elbow connector has an increasing flexibility with a decreasing thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The elbow connector of  claim 10 , wherein the elbow connector comprises at least a portion formed from polycarbonate. 
     
     
         12 . The elbow connector of  claim 11 , wherein the thin portion is more flexible than the remainder of the hollow body. 
     
     
         13 . The elbow connector of  claim 10 , wherein the elbow connector comprises at least a portion formed from Hytrel plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The elbow connector of  claim 13 , wherein the thin portion is more flexible than the remainder of the hollow body. 
     
     
         15 . The elbow connector of  claim 9 , wherein the thin portion is located in a distal portion of the hollow body positioned away from the user in use. 
     
     
         16 . The elbow connector of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged in a circle. 
     
     
         17 . The elbow connector of  claim 16 , wherein the thin portion is circular. 
     
     
         18 . The elbow connector of  claim 17 , wherein the apertures have rounded peripheries.