초록 ▼

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient. The frame includes a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient. The frame includes a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity. An elbow assembly is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame. The elbow assembly includes a swivel elbow that defines an intake port and an exhaust port separated from the intake port using a baffle. The elbow assembly includes an end portion that interfaces with the aperture of the frame.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient, the frame including a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas

What is claimed is: 1. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient, the frame including a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity; and an elbow assembly swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including a swivel elbow that defines an intake port and an exhaust port separated from the intake port using a baffle provided within an interior portion of the swivel elbow, wherein the elbow assembly includes an end portion that interfaces with the aperture of the frame. 2. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elbow assembly has a surface that is adapted to directly engage a surface of a gas delivery tube. 3. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elbow assembly is adapted to be connected directly to the gas delivery tube without a swivel connector between the elbow assembly and the gas delivery tube. 4. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elbow assembly includes a mating portion that is inserted into the aperture provided in the frame and a lock is attached to the mating portion from an inner side of the frame so as to prevent withdrawal of the mating portion from the aperture. 5. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the baffle is configured to direct exhaust gas away from the nasal breathing cavity in a first direction that is substantially opposite to a second direction in which the intake port delivers incoming gas to the nasal breathing cavity. 6. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elbow assembly includes a swivel elbow having a first end portion in communication with the gas delivery tube and a second end portion detachably coupled to the frame without accessing the nasal breathing cavity. 7. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 6, wherein the second end portion of the swivel elbow includes a mating portion adapted to engage the aperture of the frame and a resilient collar that substantially surrounds the mating portion to define a receiving space between the collar and the mating portion, and the frame includes an extension defining the aperture with a flange formed thereon, and wherein the collar is configured to flex outwardly upon entry of the flange into the receiving space until the second end portion reaches an operative position in which the collar flexes inwardly by virtue of the resiliency thereof so as to lock the flange with respect to the collar and thereby detachably couple the elbow assembly to the frame. 8. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 7, wherein the mating portion extends beyond the collar to facilitate alignment of the second end portion of the swivel elbow with respect to the frame. 9. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 7, wherein the swivel elbow includes release portions on each side of the collar that are flexed towards one another to move the collar outwardly so as to allow the flange to move out of the receiving space to detach the elbow assembly from the frame. 10. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a removable vent cover detachably connected to the elbow assembly, wherein the vent cover includes a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout. 11. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a cushion removably attachable to the frame, the cushion having a side wall with a first interlocking surface that engages a second interlocking surface provided by the frame when the cushion and frame are engaged with one another, wherein the first and second interlocking surfaces interlocking with one another to removably attach the cushion to the frame. 12. An elbow assembly for a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the elbow assembly comprising: a swivel elbow including a first end portion having a surface that is adapted to directly engage a surface of a gas delivery tube and a second end portion detachably and swivelably coupled to a frame, the swivel elbow defining an intake port and an exhaust port separated from the intake port using a baffle, the baffle being configured to direct exhaust gas away from a nasal breathing cavity defined by the frame in a first direction that is substantially opposite to a second direction in which the intake port delivers incoming gas to the nasal breathing cavity. 13. An elbow assembly according to claim 12, wherein the swivel elbow is adapted to be connected directly to the gas delivery tube without a swivel connector between the elbow assembly and the gas delivery tube. 14. An elbow assembly according to claim 12, wherein the swivel elbow includes a mating portion that is inserted into an aperture provided in the frame and a lock is attached to the mating portion from an inner side of the frame so as to prevent withdrawal of the mating portion from the aperture. 15. An elbow assembly according to claim 12, wherein the second end portion of the swivel elbow includes a mating portion adapted to engage the aperture of the frame and a resilient collar that substantially surrounds the mating portion to define a receiving space between the collar and the mating portion, and the frame includes an extension defining the aperture with a flange formed thereon, and wherein the collar is configured to flex outwardly upon entry of the flange into the receiving space until the second end portion reaches an operative position in which the collar flexes inwardly by virtue of the resiliency thereof so as to lock the flange with respect to the collar and thereby detachably couple the swivel elbow to the frame. 16. An elbow assembly according to claim 15, wherein the swivel elbow includes release portions on each side of the collar that are flexed towards one another to move the collar outwardly so as to allow the flange to move out of the receiving space to detach the swivel elbow from the frame. 17. An elbow assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a removable vent cover detachably connected to the swivel elbow, wherein the vent cover includes a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout. 18. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a front surface and a rear surface, opposite the front surface, and adapted in use to face the patient, the frame including an aperture provided through a main body thereof for the introduction of breathable gas to the patient; a cushion attachable to the frame; and a swivel elbow detachably coupled to the frame via a release mechanism positioned on the swivel elbow, wherein the aperture has an area of at least 180 mm2 and the patient can breath through the aperture when the swivel elbow is detached from the frame. 19. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 18, wherein the aperture has an area in the range of 200-600 mm2. 20. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 18, wherein the aperture has a generally circular shape. 21. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering gas to a person, the mask assembly comprising: a frame having a front surface, and a rear surface which, in use, faces a person, the frame including a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of gas into a nasal cavity; and an elbow assembly swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including a swivel elbow, wherein the elbow assembly includes an end portion which interfaces with the aperture of the frame, wherein: the frame includes a flange which surrounds the aperture, and the flange is releasably engageable with a collar of a flexible quick release mechanism formed in the end portion of the elbow. 22. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the engagement of the collar and the flange occurs during a snap-action connection of the elbow and the frame. 23. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein in the engaged position of the quick release mechanism the flange is engaged with protrusions formed in the inside surface of the collar, and wherein the elbow can be quickly removed from the frame by flexing portions on each side of the collar towards one another in order to raise the protrusions outwardly to allow passage of the flange. 24. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein a mating portion is arranged to engage the aperture of the frame, and the collar is resilient and substantially surrounds the mating portion to define a receiving space between the collar and the mating portion. 25. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 24, wherein the collar is arranged to flex outwardly upon entry of the flange into the receiving space until the swivel elbow reaches an operative position in which the collar returns to its non-flexed shape and thereby secures the swivel elbow to the frame. 26. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 24, wherein the swivel elbow includes release portions on each side of the collar that are flexed towards one another to move the collar outwardly so as to allow the flange to move out of the receiving space to detach the elbow assembly from the frame. 27. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the flange extends forward of the front surface of the frame. 28. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the flange is a circular member which surrounds the aperture of the frame. 29. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the elbow assembly has a surface that is adapted to directly engage a surface of a gas delivery tube. 30. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the elbow assembly is arranged to be connected directly to the gas delivery tube without a swivel connector between the elbow assembly and the gas delivery tube. 31. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the swivel elbow includes a mating portion to engage the aperture of the frame. 32. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 31, wherein the mating portion extends at least partially into the frame to facilitate adjustment between the swivel elbow and the frame. 33. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a removable vent cover detachably connected to the elbow assembly, wherein the vent cover includes a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout. 34. A respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a cushion removably attachable to the frame, the cushion having a side wall with a first interlocking surface which engages a second interlocking surface provided by the frame when the cushion and frame are engaged with one another, wherein the first and second interlocking surfaces interlock with one another to removably attach the cushion to the frame. 35. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient, the frame including a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity; and an elbow assembly swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including a swivel elbow, wherein the swivel elbow includes an end portion that is releasably engageable to a flange of the frame by pressing the end portion against the flange. 36. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient, the frame including a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity; and an elbow assembly swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including a swivel elbow, wherein the swivel elbow includes an end portion that is configured to releasably engage by a snap action to a flange of the frame. 37. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient, the frame including a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity; and an elbow assembly swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including a swivel elbow, wherein the swivel elbow includes an end portion having a resilient collar configured to engage a flange of the frame and be releasable from the flange by flexing portions on each side of the collar towards each other.