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An exhaust port assembly comprising a conduit carries a flow of gas. A vent assembly having a fixed exhaust area is provided on the conduit for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the conduit to ambient atmosphere. The vent assembly is configured so as to minimize noise associated with the flo

An exhaust port assembly comprising a conduit carries a flow of gas. A vent assembly having a fixed exhaust area is provided on the conduit for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the conduit to ambient atmosphere. The vent assembly is configured so as to minimize noise associated with the flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere, diffuse the flow of exhaust gas passing to ambient atmosphere over a relatively large area, and minimize the area occupied by the venting assembly on the conduit.

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What is claimed is: 1. An exhaust port assembly comprising: a conduit having a first end and a second end and adapted to carry a flow of gas; venting means, disposed between the first end and the second end of the conduit and having a fixed area, for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the co

What is claimed is: 1. An exhaust port assembly comprising: a conduit having a first end and a second end and adapted to carry a flow of gas; venting means, disposed between the first end and the second end of the conduit and having a fixed area, for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the conduit to ambient atmosphere, wherein the venting means comprises a plurality of holes defined directly through the conduit so that each hole communicates an interior of the conduit with ambient atmosphere, and wherein the plurality of holes have a diameter in a range of 0.040 in. and 0.010 in.; an auxiliary opening defined in the conduit; and a moveable valve member coupled to the conduit and adapted to close the auxiliary opening responsive to a pressure of the flow of gas within the conduit being above a predetermined threshold. 2. The exhaust port assembly of claim 1, wherein the conduit includes a generally planar portion, and wherein the holes are defined in the planar portion of the conduit. 3. The exhaust port assembly of claim 1, wherein each hole defines a generally straight path from the interior of the conduit to ambient atmosphere and has either (1) a relatively constant diameter over the length of the path, or (2) a diameter that decreases from the interior of the conduit toward an exterior thereof. 4. The exhaust port assembly of claim 1, wherein the venting means comprises an opening defined in the conduit and a mesh screen disposed over the opening. 5. The exhaust port assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve member comprises a flexible cantilever member having one end attached to the conduit. 6. The exhaust port assembly of claim 1, further comprising a quick release assembly provided at the first end of the conduit. 7. A pressure support system comprising: a) a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas; b) a patient circuit having a first end coupled to the pressure generating system and a second end, wherein the conduit is adapted to carry the flow of gas; c) a patient interface device adapted to communicate the flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient; and d) an exhaust port assembly associated with the patient circuit, the exhalation port assembly comprising: 1) a conduit having a first end coupled to the patient interface device and a second end and adapted to be coupled to the patient circuit so that the conduit is disposed in-line in the patient circuit, 2) venting means, disposed between the first end and the second end of the conduit and having a fixed exhaust area, for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the conduit to ambient atmosphere, wherein the venting means comprises a plurality of holes defined directly through the conduit so that each hole communicates an interior of the conduit with ambient atmosphere, and wherein the plurality of holes have a diameter in a range of 0.040 in. and 0.010 in, 3) an auxiliary opening defined in the conduit; and 4) a moveable valve member coupled to the conduit and adapted to close the auxiliary opening responsive to a pressure of the flow of gas within the conduit being above a predetermined threshold. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the valve member comprises a flexible cantilever member having one end attached to the conduit. 9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a quick release assembly provided at the first end of the conduit and adapted to selectively release the first end of the conduit from an engaged relation with an associated portion of the pressure support system to which the first end is engaged. 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the conduit includes a generally planar portion, and wherein the holes are defined in the planar portion of the conduit. 11. The system of claim 7, wherein each hole defines a generally straight path from the interior of the conduit to ambient atmosphere and has either (1) a relatively constant diameter over the length of the path, or (2) a diameter that decreases from the interior of the conduit toward an exterior thereof. 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the venting means comprises an opening defined in the conduit and a mesh screen disposed over the opening. 13. An exhaust port assembly comprising: a conduit having a first end adapted to be coupled to a patient circuit, a second end adapted to be coupled to a patient interface device, and a plurality of holes defined through the conduit so as to communicate an interior of the conduit with ambient atmosphere, and wherein the holes have a diameter in a range of 0.040 in to 0.010 in; an auxiliary opening defined in the conduit; and a moveable valve member coupled to the conduit and adapted to close the auxiliary opening responsive to a pressure of the flow of gas within the conduit being above a predetermined threshold. 14. The exhaust port assembly of claim 13, wherein the conduit includes a generally planar portion, and wherein the holes are defined in the planar portion of the conduit. 15. The exhaust port assembly of claim 13, wherein each hole defines a generally straight path from the interior of the conduit to ambient atmosphere and has either (1) a relatively constant diameter over the length of the path, or (2) a diameter that decreases from the interior of the conduit toward an exterior thereof. 16. The exhaust port assembly of claim 13, wherein the valve member comprises a flexible cantilever member having one end attached to the conduit. 17. The exhaust port assembly of claim 13, further comprising a quick release assembly provided at the first end of the conduit. 18. An exhaust port assembly comprising: a conduit having a first end and a second end and adapted to carry a flow of gas; venting means, disposed between the first end and the second end of the conduit and having a fixed area, for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the conduit to ambient atmosphere, wherein the venting means comprises a plurality of holes defined directly through the conduit so that each hole communicates an interior of the conduit with ambient atmosphere, wherein the plurality of holes have a diameter in a range of 0.040 in. and 0.010 in., and wherein the venting means comprises an opening defined in the conduit and a mesh screen disposed over the opening. 19. A pressure support system comprising: a) a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas; b) a patient circuit having a first end coupled to the pressure generating system and a second end, wherein the conduit is adapted to carry the flow of gas; c) a patient interface device adapted to communicate the flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient; and d) an exhaust port assembly associated with the patient circuit, the exhalation port assembly comprising: 1) a conduit having a first end coupled to the patient interface device and a second end and adapted to be coupled to the patient circuit so that the conduit is disposed in-line in the patient circuit, 2) venting means, disposed between the first end and the second end of the conduit and having a fixed exhaust area, for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the conduit to ambient atmosphere, wherein the venting means comprises a plurality of holes defined directly through the conduit so that each hole communicates an interior of the conduit with ambient atmosphere, and wherein the plurality of holes have a diameter in a range of 0.040 in. and 0.010 in., and wherein the venting means comprises an opening defined in the conduit and a mesh screen disposed over the opening.