Cushion assembly for a respiratory mask

Abstract

A mask cushion or a mask assembly therewith provides a comfortable and effective seal for provision of a gas therapy by a respiratory treatment apparatus. The mask cushion may be integrated with or coupled to a mask frame. The mask cushion typically includes an inner cushion component. The mask cushion also includes a patient facial-contact side portion with a chamber and a barrier to form the chamber that may be flexible. The chamber may serve as an outer layer with respect to the inner cushion component. The chamber may be partially or completely filled with a gas, fluid or gel. The inner cushion may be formed with a soft flexible material such as an elastomer or foam, etc. The barrier may be a membrane and may also be soft flexible material.

1 . A cushion for a respiratory mask to provide an interface for contacting a facial feature of a patient, the cushion comprising:
 an inner cushion component including a three-dimensional spacer fabric; and   a patient contact side portion, the patient contact side portion comprising a barrier defining a chamber, and the chamber at least partially surrounding the inner cushion component.   
     
     
         2 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer fabric is saturated or impregnated by a gel. 
     
     
         3 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer fabric is in a matrix structure. 
     
     
         4 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cushion component is wholly or partially encapsulated by the barrier. 
     
     
         5 . The cushion of  claim 4 , wherein the chamber is a cavity formed by the barrier and the inner cushion component. 
     
     
         6 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is formed from silicone, polyurethane and/or polyethylene, or of a viscoelastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is configured to form a sealing relationship with the facial feature of the patient when the respiratory mask is worn by the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is configured to retain a chamber material within the chamber between the inner cushion component and the barrier. 
     
     
         9 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the chamber material includes a gas or liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the chamber material at least partially fills the chamber depending on a desired response characteristic of the cushion. 
     
     
         11 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the chamber material is configured to move, flow, permeate within the chamber, or deform in response to patient contact pressure applied on the barrier. 
     
     
         12 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the chamber material is configured to permeate through or within the inner cushion component. 
     
     
         13 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the chamber material is configured to saturate the inner cushion component or move through a porous or open structure of the inner cushion component, such that at least a portion of the inner cushion component is encapsulated or retained within an enclosure of the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein when an external force contacts the barrier, the chamber material is configured to migrate from the chamber to the inner cushion component, and
 wherein when the external force recedes, the chamber material is configured to return from the inner cushion component to the chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The cushion of  claim 8 , further comprising an internal barrier membrane configured to impede or prevent the chamber material from permeating through or within the inner cushion component. 
     
     
         16 . The cushion of  claim 15 , wherein the internal barrier membrane is configured to internally encapsulate the inner cushion component. 
     
     
         17 . The cushion of  claim 1 , where the chamber includes a plurality of discrete cells containing different chamber materials. 
     
     
         18 . A mask assembly for a respiratory treatment apparatus comprising:
 a mask frame, the mask frame including a port for coupling with a gas supply tube; and   a cushion coupled with the mask frame, the cushion comprising:
 an inner cushion component including a three-dimensional spacer fabric, and; 
 a patient contact side portion, the patient contact portion comprising a barrier defining a chamber, and the chamber at least partially surrounding the inner cushion component. 
   
     
     
         19 . The mask assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the spacer fabric is saturated or impregnated by a gel. 
     
     
         20 . The mask assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the spacer fabric is in a matrix structure.