Adjustable headgear tubing for a patient interface

Abstract

Aspects of the present technology comprise a positioning and stabilising structure to hold a seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a head of a patient. The seal-forming structure may be constructed and arranged to form a seal with a region of the patient's face surrounding an entrance to the patient's airways for sealed delivery of a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure of at least 4 cmH 2 O with respect to ambient air pressure throughout the patient's respiratory cycle in use. The positioning and stabilising structure may comprise at least one gas delivery tube to deliver the flow of air to the entrance of a patient's airways via the seal-forming structure. The positioning and stabilising structure may comprise an adjustment mechanism for adjustment of a length of the at least one gas delivery tube to enable the positioning and stabilising structure to fit different size heads.

1 . A positioning and stabilising structure to hold a seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a head of a patient, the seal-forming structure being constructed and arranged to form a seal with a region of the patient's face surrounding an entrance to the patient's airways for sealed delivery of a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure of at least 4 cmH 2 O with respect to ambient air pressure throughout the patient's respiratory cycle in use, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising:
 at least one gas delivery tube to deliver the flow of air to the entrance of a patient's airways via the seal-forming structure, the at least one gas delivery tube being constructed and arranged to contact, in use, at least a region of the patient's head superior to an otobasion superior of the patient's head;   an adjustment mechanism for adjustment of a length of the at least one gas delivery tube to enable the positioning and stabilising structure to fit different size heads; and   a bias mechanism to impart a biasing force along at least a part of a length of the at least one gas delivery tube to urge the seal-forming structure towards the entrance of the patient's airways in use.   
     
     
         2 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas delivery tube comprises the adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas delivery tube comprises the bias mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a connection port to fluidly connect, in use, with an air circuit connected to a supply of pressurised air, the connection port being located, in use, proximal a top, side or rear portion of a patient's head. 
     
     
         5 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the bias mechanism comprises an elastic member provided between the seal-forming structure and the connection port. 
     
     
         6 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the elastic member comprises an elastic sleeve, wherein the gas delivery tube comprises the elastic sleeve and an inner gas delivery conduit, the elastic sleeve covering the inner gas delivery conduit. 
     
     
         7 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the elastic member comprises a portion of the gas delivery tube formed from an elastic material. 
     
     
         8 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the elastic member comprises a portion of the gas delivery tube having a concertina structure. 
     
     
         9 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises the concertina structure. 
     
     
         10 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the portion of the gas delivery tube having a concertina structure is, in use, positioned in contact with a region of the patient's head superior to the otobasion superior of the patient's head. 
     
     
         11 . An inflatable positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism enables the length of the at least one gas delivery tube to be adjusted through a continuous range of lengths. 
     
     
         12 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery tube comprises a first tube portion and a second tube portion, the first tube portion telescopically moveable relative to the second tube portion to adjust the length of the tube. 
     
     
         13 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the patient interface comprises one or more tabs to facilitate telescopic relative movement between first tube portion and second tube portion. 
     
     
         14 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the patient interface comprises a tube portion securing mechanism to secure the first and second tube portions at a plurality of discrete positions relative to one another. 
     
     
         15 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery tube comprises a fold portion such that, the length of the gas delivery tube when the fold portion is in a folded configuration is different to the length of the gas delivery tube when the fold portion is in an unfolded configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the gas delivery tube comprises a plurality of fold portions in a portion of the gas delivery tube having a concertina structure. 
     
     
         17 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a stretchable section of the gas delivery tube. 
     
     
         18 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a first tube portion that is removable and replaceable by a second tube portion having a different length to the first tube portion. 
     
     
         19 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises one or more tube insert members configured to be selectably fluidly connected to the gas delivery tube to alter the length of the gas delivery tube. 
     
     
         20 . A positioning and stabilising structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery tube comprises a plurality of indicators indicating where to cut the gas delivery tube for fitting different sized patient heads.