Patient interfaces

Abstract

An interface for positive pressure respiratory therapy includes a mask assembly having a mask seal and a mask shell. The mask assembly is positioned lower than and exposes a bridge of the user's nose. The mask seal includes portions that contact opposing sides of the user's nose. Each portion of the mask seal includes supports that help maintain the mask seal's shape. Two covers can be supported relative to the mask assembly and adjacent a respective portion of the mask seal. The covers limit expansion of the portions of the mask seal in response to pressurized air within the mask seal. The supports can transfer load from the mask seal to the covers. An interface system can include multiple size mask seals, which can be designed with consideration of ethnic variations in nose size and/or shape.

1 .- 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A mask seal for an interface for use in providing positive pressure respiratory therapy, the mask seal comprising:
 a seal body configured to be fully positioned lower than a bridge of a nose of a face of a user and to provide an exposed bridge of the nose of the user, the seal body comprising a nasal region comprising a nasal opening, the seal body comprising a first paddle on a first side of the nasal region and a second paddle on a second side of the nasal region, the first paddle configured to contact one side of the nose of the user and the second paddle configured to contact the other side of the nose of the user;   the seal being configured to be provided in a range of sizes comprising:
 a first size configured to fit users having a first range of nasal widths and a first range of nasal lengths; 
 a second size configured to fit users having a second range of nasal widths and a second range of nasal lengths; 
 a third size configured to fit users having a third range of nasal widths and a third range of nasal lengths; 
 a fourth size configured to fit users having a fourth range of nasal widths and a fourth range of nasal lengths; 
 the first range of nasal widths and the second range of nasal widths are similar and the third range of nasal widths and the fourth range of nasal width are similar, the first range of nasal widths and the third range of nasal widths are different. 
   
     
     
         60 . The mask seal of  claim 59 , wherein the first range of nasal lengths and the third range of nasal lengths are similar and the second range of nasal lengths and the fourth range of nasal lengths are similar. 
     
     
         61 . The mask seal of  claim 60 , wherein the first range of nasal lengths is different from the second range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         62 . The mask seal of  claim 61 , wherein the first range of nasal lengths does not overlap with the second range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         63 . The mask seal of  claim 59 , wherein the first range of nasal widths does not overlap with the third range of nasal widths. 
     
     
         64 . The mask seal of  claim 59 , wherein the first range of nasal widths is different from the fourth range of nasal widths, and the first range of nasal lengths is different from the fourth range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         65 . The mask seal of  claim 64 , wherein the first range of nasal widths does not overlap with the fourth range of nasal widths, and the first range of nasal lengths does not overlap with the fourth range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         66 . The mask seal of  claim 64 , wherein the first range of nasal widths is less than the fourth range of nasal widths, and the first range of nasal lengths is less than the fourth range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         67 . The mask seal of  claim 64 , wherein the second range of nasal widths is different from the third range of nasal widths, and the second range of nasal lengths is different from the third range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         68 . The mask seal of  claim 67 , wherein the second range of nasal widths does not overlap with the third range of nasal widths, and the second range of nasal lengths does not overlap with the third range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         69 . The mask seal of  claim 67 , wherein the second range of nasal widths is less than the third range of nasal widths, and the second range of nasal lengths is greater than the fourth range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         70 . A mask seal for an interface for use in providing positive pressure respiratory therapy, the mask seal comprising:
 a seal body configured to be fully positioned lower than a bridge of a nose of a face of a user and to provide an exposed bridge of the nose of the user, the seal body comprising a nasal region comprising a nasal opening, the seal body comprising a first paddle on a first side of the nasal region and a second paddle on a second side of the nasal region, the first paddle configured to contact one side of the nose of the user and the second paddle configured to contact the other side of the nose of the user;   the seal being configured to be provided in a range of sizes comprising:
 a first size configured to fit users having a first range of nasal widths and a first range of nasal lengths; 
 a second size configured to fit users having a second range of nasal widths and a second range of nasal lengths; 
 a third size configured to fit users having a third range of nasal widths and a third range of nasal lengths; 
 a fourth size configured to fit users having a fourth range of nasal widths and a fourth range of nasal lengths; 
 the first range of nasal lengths and the third range of nasal lengths are similar and the second range of nasal lengths and the fourth range of nasal lengths are similar, the first range of nasal lengths and the second range of nasal lengths are different. 
   
     
     
         71 . The mask seal of  claim 70 , wherein the first range of nasal lengths does not overlap with the second range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         72 . The mask seal of  claim 70 , wherein the first range of nasal widths is different from the fourth range of nasal widths, and the first range of nasal lengths is different from the fourth range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         73 . The mask seal of  claim 72 , wherein the first range of nasal widths does not overlap with the fourth range of nasal widths, and the first range of nasal lengths does not overlap with the fourth range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         74 . The mask seal of  claim 72 , wherein the first range of nasal widths is less than the fourth range of nasal widths, and the first range of nasal lengths is less than the fourth range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         75 . The mask seal of  claim 72 , wherein the second range of nasal widths is different from the third range of nasal widths, and the second range of nasal lengths is different from the third range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         76 . The mask seal of  claim 75 , wherein the second range of nasal widths does not overlap with the third range of nasal widths, and the second range of nasal lengths does not overlap with the third range of nasal lengths. 
     
     
         77 . The mask seal of  claim 75 , wherein the second range of nasal widths is less than the third range of nasal widths, and the second range of nasal lengths is greater than the fourth range of nasal lengths.