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A mask system for delivering air to a user includes a suspension mechanism to allow relative movement between a face-contacting cushion and a mask shell. The suspension mechanism also provides a predetermined force to the cushion that is a function of mask pressure, displacement of the cushion or bo

A mask system for delivering air to a user includes a suspension mechanism to allow relative movement between a face-contacting cushion and a mask shell. The suspension mechanism also provides a predetermined force to the cushion that is a function of mask pressure, displacement of the cushion or both.

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1. A breathable gas mask arrangement for sealed delivery of a flow of pressurized breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient's airways, wherein the breathable gas mask arrangement is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of abo

1. A breathable gas mask arrangement for sealed delivery of a flow of pressurized breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient's airways, wherein the breathable gas mask arrangement is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 4cmH2O to about 25cmH2O above ambient pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, said breathable gas mask arrangement comprising: a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of said pressurized breathable gas and a patient side;a gusset portion having a first side attached to the patient side of the shell and having a second side;a cushion having a first portion attached to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a patient's face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the patient's face for delivery of said pressurized gas to the patient's airways; andwherein:a distance between the mask shell and the cushion is variable, andthe gusset portion defines a projected area having an outer extent determinative of contact force applied to the patient's face, said projected area is variable to vary the contact force in use dependent on the distance between the mask shell and the cushion, anda maximum width of the gusset portion over an operating pressure range is greater that a width of the mask shell at the patient side of the mask shell. 2. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projected area is variable in a radial direction according to a pressure of the supplied breathable gas over an operating pressure range. 3. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gusset portion comprises an elastic spring constant that varies according to (1 ) a pressure of the supplied breathable gas over an operating pressure range and/or (2 ) the distance between the shell and the cushion. 4. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushion is directly attached to an elastic sidewall of the gusset portion. 5. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein an elastic sidewall of the gusset portion extends radially outward from the cushion. 6. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising headgear constructed to support the shell to the patient, said headgear including at least one strap. 7. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein a component of contact force (Fc) provided by the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the projected area is sufficient to maintain the seal between the mask arrangement and the patient's face without adjusting strap tension. 8. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein the strap tension upon initial set up of the mask arrangement does not exceed a value sufficient to bring the cushion in contact with the patient's face. 9. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gusset portion consists of a single gusset. 10. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projected area provided by the gusset portion on the patient's face is greater than an area of contact of the cushion with the patient's face. 11. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projected area is a projected area on the patient's face of an interior of the gusset portion exposed to pressure. 12. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projected area corresponds to a width between outer extents of the gusset portion across the cushion. 13. A breathable gas mask arrangement for sealed delivery of a flow of pressurized breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient's airways, wherein the breathable gas mask arrangement is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 4cmH2O to about 25cmH2O above ambient pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, said breathable gas mask arrangement comprising: a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of said pressurized breathable gas and a patient side; anda cushion having a shell attachment portion attached to the patient side of the shell, a face contacting portion constructed and arranged to contact a patient's face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the patient's face for delivery of said pressurized gas to the patient's airways, and a gusset portion between the shell contacting portion and the face contacting portion,wherein a maximum width of the gusset portion over an operating pressure range is greater than a width of the mask shell at the patient side of the mask shell. 14. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 13, further comprising headgear including a plurality of straps to secure the mask arrangement to the patient, the straps arranged so they do not obstruct the patient's view in use. 15. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a forehead support adapted to engage the patient's forehead in use, wherein upper straps of the headgear engage the forehead support and lower straps of the headgear engage the shell. 16. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the gusset portion includes only a single gusset having first and second side walls that define an angle therebetween, the first side wall formed as a continuous extension with the shell attachment portion and the second side wall formed as a continuous extension with the face contacting portion. 17. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the maximum width of the gusset portion over an operating pressure range is greater than the width of the mask shell where the cushion connects to the mask shell. 18. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the gusset portion defines a projected area having an outer extent determinative of contact force applied to the patient's face, said projected area is variable to vary the contact force in use dependent on a distance between the mask shell and the cushion. 19. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the gusset portion is adapted to define a projected area on the patient's face that is greater than an area of contact of the cushion with the patient's face. 20. A breathable gas mask arrangement for sealed delivery of a flow of pressurized breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient's airways, wherein the breathable gas mask arrangement is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 4cmH2O to about 25cmH2O above ambient pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, said breathable gas mask arrangement comprising: a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of said pressurized breathable gas and a patient side; anda full-face cushion having a shell attachment portion attached to the patient side of the shell, a face contacting portion constructed and arranged to contact a patient's face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the patient's face for delivery of said pressurized gas to the patient's airways, and a gusset portion between the shell contacting portion and the face contacting portion,wherein:the face contacting portion includes a flexible membrane distinct from walls of the gusset portion, anda maximum width of the gusset portion over an operating pressure range is greater than a width of the mask shell at the patient side of the mask shell. 21. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the cushion is adapted to provide a seal around the patient's nose and mouth. 22. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the cushion is integrally molded of a silicone material. 23. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 20, further comprising headgear constructed and arranged to support the mask shell to the patient, wherein the headgear includes upper side straps adapted to pass over the patient's ears and lower side straps adapted to pass below the patient's ears. 24. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein side walls of the gusset portion have a generally uniform thickness. 25. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion. 26. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 25, wherein the distance is within a range of movement of the gusset portion that is greater than 0 mm and less than 30 mm. 27. A breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the flexible membrane is adapted to provide a seal around the patient's nose and mouth. 28. A breathable gas mask arrangement for sealed delivery of a flow of pressurized breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient's airways, wherein the breathable gas mask arrangement is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 4cmH2O to about 25cmH2O above ambient pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, said breathable gas mask arrangement comprising: a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of said pressurized breathable gas and a patient side;a gusset portion having a first side attached to the patient side of the shell and having a second side;a cushion having a first portion attached to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a patient's face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the patient's face for delivery of said pressurized gas to the patient's airways; andheadgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the patient;wherein the gusset portion includes an elastic sidewall having a spring constant that is at least partially determinative of a force applied to the patient's face through the second portion of the cushion, anda maximum width of the gusset portion over an operating pressure range is greater than a width of the mask shell at the patient side of the mask shell. 29. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion. 30. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 29, wherein the distance is within a range of movement of the gusset portion that is greater than 0 mm and less than 30 mm. 31. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein an interior of the gusset portion is exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and adapted to provide a projected area on the patient's face (Ag) which is greater than an area (Ac) of contact of the cushion with the patient's face. 32. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the gusset portion includes a single gusset having a flexible sidewall. 33. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cushion and gusset are molded of a silicone material. 34. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second portion of the cushion includes a flexible membrane and an inner rim that provides a backing element for the membrane. 35. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 34, wherein the membrane and the inner rim are connected to a relatively rigid side wall that attaches to the gusset portion. 36. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the headgear includes upper side straps adapted to pass over the patient's ears and lower side straps adapted to pass below the patient's ears. 37. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the side wall includes a thickened base. 38. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cushion and gusset portion meet at an intersection. 39. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 38, wherein the cushion and gusset portion form a substantially continuous surface. 40. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 38, wherein the cushion and gusset portion are angled with respect to one another. 41. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the gusset portion is adapted to define a projected area on the patient's face that provides a component of a contact force of the cushion on the patient's face. 42. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 41, wherein the mask arrangement is adapted to define a ratio of the projected area of the gusset portion on the patient's face to an area of contact of the cushion with the patient's face of at least 1.30. 43. The breathable gas mask arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the gusset portion extends radially outwardly from the cushion around the entire perimeter of the cushion.