Nasal pillows for a patient interface

Abstract

A nasal pillow section for use as part of an apparatus for providing a stream of gases to a user, the pillow section in use located in front of the upper lip and below the nostrils of a user, the pillow section comprising a pillow gasket having a gases aperture which receives a stream of gases in use, and nasal pillows fluidically connected to the pillow gasket which are adapted to substantially seal against the nostrils of a user in use, so that substantially the whole of the stream of gases entering the gasket through the aperture passes into the nasal pillows from the pillow gasket and is delivered to the user, the lower inner surface of the pillow gasket shaped so that in use contact between the upper lip of a user and the pillow gasket is minimised.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A nasal pillow section for use as part of an apparatus for providing a stream of gases to a user, the nasal pillow section configured to be located in front of an upper lip of the user and below nostrils of the user when in use, the nasal pillow section, when viewed from the front and to one side of the nasal pillow section while being worn by the user in a standing position, comprising:
 a pillow gasket having a gases aperture that receives the stream of gases in use, the pillow gasket having a cylindrical portion that in use is aligned across a top lip of the user, the gases aperture being positioned at an axial end of the pillows gasket;   nasal pillows fluidically connected to the pillow gasket and configured to substantially seal against the nostrils of the user in use such that substantially all of the stream of gases passes from the pillow gasket into the nasal pillows and from the nasal pillows to the user; and   a lower inner surface of the pillow gasket having a straight planar surface or a recessed portion that defines a concavity, the lower inner surface being user-facing.   
     
     
         22 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 21 , wherein the pillow gasket comprises, at a bottom forward-facing portion of the cylindrical portion, a slit that extends along a majority of a full length of the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         23 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 22 , wherein the lower inner surface of the pillow gasket at a lower portion of the recessed portion and towards a lower portion of the pillow gasket in a direction away from the nasal pillows curves rearwardly. 
     
     
         24 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 23 , wherein the lower portion of the lower inner surface of the pillow gasket is rearwardly spaced apart from a lower inner edge of the slit. 
     
     
         25 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 22 , wherein each of the nasal pillows comprises a stem, each stem comprises a base, and the recessed portion of the lower inner surface of the pillow gasket extends from each base towards a bottom of the pillow gasket. 
     
     
         26 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 25 , wherein each of the nasal pillows comprises a cap, and each stem flares towards a top end where the stem merges with a bottom of the cap. 
     
     
         27 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 25 , wherein each of the nasal pillows comprises a cap, and each stem has a partially cylindrical portion that defines a straight side. 
     
     
         28 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 25 , wherein a bridging platform extends between the stems of the nasal pillows. 
     
     
         29 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 28 , wherein the bridging platform is stiffer than adjacent regions that extend around a base of each of the stems as well as the stems and the caps of the nasal pillows. 
     
     
         30 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 29 , wherein the bridging platform is stiffer at least in part because of a greater thickness. 
     
     
         31 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 27 , wherein the bridging platform comprises an indented profile and is configured to be spaced apart from the upper lip. 
     
     
         32 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 25 , wherein the lower inner surface has a forward-slope at an angle with respect to vertical with a lower edge of the lower inner surface being positioned further forward relative to an upper edge of the lower inner surface. 
     
     
         33 . The nasal pillow section according to  claim 32 , wherein the straight planar surface extends between each base of the stems and a lower inner edge that defines at least a portion of the slit. 
     
     
         34 . An interface for use as part of an apparatus for providing a stream of gases to a user, the interface comprising:
 a manifold section that includes a gases supply aperture, the gases supply aperture receiving the stream of gases, the manifold section connectable to a headgear assembly so that the interface is held in position on a face of the user in use, and   a nasal pillow section configured to be located in front of an upper lip of the user and below nostrils of the user when in use, the nasal pillow section, when viewed from the front and to one side of the nasal pillow section while being worn by the user in a standing position, the nasal pillow section comprising:
 a pillow gasket having a cylindrical portion that in use is aligned across a top lip of the user; 
 nasal pillows fluidically connected to the pillow gasket and configured to substantially seal against the nostrils of the user in use such that substantially all of the stream of gases passes from the nasal pillows to the user; and 
 a lower inner surface of the pillow gasket having a straight planar surface or a recessed portion that defines a concavity, the lower inner surface being user-facing. 
   
     
     
         35 . The interface according to  claim 34 , wherein the manifold section and the cylindrical portion of the pillow gasket when assembled for use are aligned across the upper lip of the user. 
     
     
         36 . The interface according to  claim 35 , wherein the manifold section is formed with a semi-rigid plastic and comprises a central cross-brace body section, the central cross-brace body section being positioned between two end sections. 
     
     
         37 . The interface according to  claim 36 , wherein the pillow gasket comprises, at a bottom forward-facing portion of the cylindrical portion, a slit that extends along a majority of a full length of the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         38 . The interface according to  claim 37 , wherein each of the nasal pillows comprises a stem, each stem comprises a base, the recessed portion of the lower inner surface of the pillow gasket extends from each base towards a bottom of the pillow gasket, each of the nasal pillows comprises a cap, each stem flares towards a top end where the stem merges with a bottom of the cap, a bridging platform extends between the stems of the nasal pillows, and the bridging platform is stiffer than adjacent regions that extend around a base of each of the stems as well as the stems and the caps of the nasal pillows. 
     
     
         39 . The interface according to  claim 38 , wherein the bridging platform is stiffer at least in part because of a greater thickness. 
     
     
         40 . The interface according to  claim 37 , wherein each of the nasal pillows comprises a stem, each stem comprises a base, the recessed portion of the lower inner surface of the pillow gasket extends from each base towards a bottom of the pillow gasket, each of the nasal pillows comprises a cap, each stem flares towards a top end where the stem merges with a bottom of the cap, a bridging platform extends between the stems of the nasal pillows, and the lower inner surface has a forward-slope at an angle with respect to vertical with a lower edge of the lower inner surface being positioned further forward relative to an upper edge of the lower inner surface.