Nasal seal and respiratory interface

Abstract

A nasal mask having a seal housing and a flexible nasal seal connected or connectable to the seal housing to define a mask cavity. The nasal seal extends between a face-contacting side and an outer side. The nasal seal has a contacting surface having an edge that defines a nose-receiving opening into the mask cavity and which is configured to seal about the user's nose. The nasal seal also has an under-nose support fixedly connected into the seal and which is configured to extend within the mask cavity and having a contact surface that is oriented to contact at least a portion of the under-nose surface of the user.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A nasal mask interface assembly comprising:
 a seal housing;   a flexible nasal seal connectable to the seal housing, the flexible nasal seal at least partially defining a mask cavity, the flexible nasal seal extending between a face-contacting side and an outer side, the flexible nasal seal comprising:   a contacting surface comprising an edge, the edge defining a nose-receiving opening into the mask cavity, and the edge being configured to seal around a nose of a user; and   an under-nose support fixedly connected within the flexible nasal seal, the under-nose support extending into the mask cavity, the under-nose support having a contact surface, the contact surface being oriented to contact at least a portion of an under-nose surface of the user;   headgear comprising a single left side strap and a single right side strap, the single left side strap and the single right side strap being capable of extending over a left ear and a right ear of the user respectively; and   a yoke releasably connectable to the seal housing, the yoke comprising a pair of opposing distal ends, each of the pair of opposing distal ends of the yoke being connectable to a corresponding end of one of the single left side strap and the single right side strap such that the headgear is connected to the yoke to define a closed loop headgear system.   
     
     
         42 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the under-nose support comprises an elongate main lateral portion, the elongate main lateral portion connected to and suspended between opposing sidewall portions of the flexible nasal seal such that the elongate main lateral portion extends laterally within the mask cavity. 
     
     
         43 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the under-nose support comprises an elongated strip or band of material, the elongated strip or band of material extending laterally across and within the flexible nasal seal between opposing sides of the flexible nasal seal, the elongated strip or band of material being located rearwardly of the contacting surface, and the under-nose support being conformable with a sling-like effect to the under-nose surface of the user. 
     
     
         44 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the yoke is substantially elongate, the yoke comprising a strap connector located at or near each of the pair of opposing distal ends of the yoke such that there are a pair of strap connectors. 
     
     
         45 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 44 , wherein each of the pair of strap connectors comprises an end cap to provide a pair of end caps, the pair of end caps located with one of the pair of end caps at each of the pair of opposing distal ends of the yoke, and each of the pair of end caps being non-removably connected to the corresponding one of the pair of opposing ends of the yoke. 
     
     
         46 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 45 , wherein each of the pair of end caps is over-molded onto a braided element of each of the single left side strap and the single right side strap. 
     
     
         47 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the yoke defines a collector for core elements used in an automatically adjustable headgear. 
     
     
         48 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 47  further comprising core elements, wherein the core elements extend within the braided element of each of the single left side strap and the single right side strap, and each of the pair of end caps connect the braided element of each of the single left side strap and the single right side strap and headgear to the yoke to define the closed loop headgear system. 
     
     
         49 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the yoke comprises one or more directional locks that interact with the core elements that extend from each of the single left side strap and the single right side strap of the automatically adjustable headgear. 
     
     
         50 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 49 , wherein at least one of the one or more directional locks comprises a washer mechanism that frictionally engages with at least one of the core elements during elongation of the automatically adjustable headgear, the washer mechanism allowing relatively friction-free movement of the at least one of the core elements during retraction of the automatically adjustable headgear. 
     
     
         51 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 49 , wherein the one or more directional locks are adaptable between a locked configuration and an open configuration. 
     
     
         52 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 51 , wherein, in the locked configuration, a path provided for the core elements through the one or more directional locks is non-linear or tortuous and movement of the core elements is restricted through the directional locks. 
     
     
         53 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 51 , wherein, in the open configuration, a path is provided for the core elements to be pulled substantially freely though the directional locks. 
     
     
         54 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the seal housing comprises a yoke channel and an exterior surface, the yoke channel extending laterally across the exterior surface of the seal housing, the yoke channel being capable of releasably receiving and retaining the yoke. 
     
     
         55 . The nasal mask interface assembly of  claim 41 , wherein each of the single left side strap and the single right side strap can extend along sides or cheeks of a face of the user.