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A mask apparatus for a respiratory treatment can permit delivery of breathable gas to a user. In one example, the mask may employ a frame and cushion to form a seal for both mouth and nose. The frame may be adapted for coupling with a respiratory treatment apparatus so as to permit communication of

A mask apparatus for a respiratory treatment can permit delivery of breathable gas to a user. In one example, the mask may employ a frame and cushion to form a seal for both mouth and nose. The frame may be adapted for coupling with a respiratory treatment apparatus so as to permit communication of a pressurized gas from the respiratory treatment apparatus. The cushion, which may be foam, may have a substantially under the nose configuration or over the nose configuration. The mask may have a common plenum chamber for both nose and mouth. The cushion may further define a centrally open lip superior region. The cushion may be adapted to couple with the frame directly or to the frame in conjunction with a cushion support clip. Various features of the cushion may further promote sealing and comfort for the under the nose design.

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1. A foam cushion assembly for a patient interface, the foam cushion assembly being adapted to couple with a patient interface frame, the foam cushion assembly comprising at least a nose seal portion, wherein the foam cushion assembly comprises: a foam cushion arranged for sealing about at least the

1. A foam cushion assembly for a patient interface, the foam cushion assembly being adapted to couple with a patient interface frame, the foam cushion assembly comprising at least a nose seal portion, wherein the foam cushion assembly comprises: a foam cushion arranged for sealing about at least the nose of a patient, anda cushion support component arranged to couple to the foam cushion, wherein the cushion support component is characterised by a height to thickness ratio of at least 3, around at least a portion of a periphery of the foam cushion,wherein the cushion support component forms an inwardly overhanging peripheral lip for mounting the foam cushion. 2. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion support component is flexible. 3. The foam cushion assembly of claim 2 wherein the cushion support component that is flexible is formed by a rigid material and the flexibility is induced by way of introducing one or more compliance regions. 4. The foam cushion assembly of claim 3 wherein the compliance regions are formed by introducing a line of weakness or a region of weakness. 5. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1, the cushion support component having an inwardly concave shape, dimensions and material properties that, when pressure is applied to the patient interface in use, facilitate an air spring effect. 6. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion support component is made of a material other than foam and silicone. 7. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion is externally attached to the cushion support component. 8. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion is configured with a foam surface for direct contact with the patient's skin. 9. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion is a semi-open cell foam with limited permeability. 10. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion has a permeability characteristic in a range of about 0 to 20 liters per minute. 11. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion has an indentation hardness characteristic in a range of about 110.48 to 303.11 Newtons. 12. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion has a compression stress strain characteristic in a range of about 2.32 to 7.26 kilo-pascals. 13. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion has an apparent density characteristic in a range of about 24.3 to 117.85 kilograms per meter cubed. 14. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion has a compression set characteristic in a range of about 0.16 to 17.30 percent. 15. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1, wherein the cushion support component is L, C or Z-shaped. 16. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion support component comprises a foam cushion coupling portion, providing a contact surface to which the foam cushion is attached, a flexible support portion and a base portion for attaching to a second support component or to the patient interface frame. 17. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1, wherein shape, dimensions and material characteristics of the cushion support component are selected so that at least a portion of the cushion support component acts as a cantilever spring in use. 18. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1, the foam cushion assembly further comprising a second support component configured to couple with the cushion support component and the patient interface frame. 19. The foam cushion assembly of claim 18, wherein the second support component is more rigid than the cushion support component and the cushion support component is more rigid than the foam cushion. 20. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1, wherein the foam cushion and the cushion support component are integrally connected. 21. The foam cushion assembly of claim 18, wherein the foam cushion, the cushion support component and the second support component are integrally connected. 22. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 configured so that different levels of support and compliance are provided in at least some sections along a periphery of the foam cushion assembly. 23. The foam cushion assembly of claim 22, wherein one or more parameters vary in at least some sections of a periphery of the cushion support component, the parameters including: spring constant of the cushion support component and/or the foam cushion;cross-sectional profile of the cushion support component and/or the foam cushion;wall thickness of the cushion support component;angle of a contact surface of the cushion support component to which the foam cushion is attached;overhang of the foam cushion with respect to the supporting contact surface; andfoam thickness. 24. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1, the foam cushion assembly including a protrusion and being configured to be, when in use, depressed by a headgear strap so as to apply pressure on a respective region of the foam cushion. 25. A patient interface apparatus for a respiratory treatment comprising: a frame adapted to couple with a respiratory treatment apparatus so as to permit communication of a pressurized gas to a respiratory system of a patient from the respiratory treatment apparatus; anda cushion assembly adapted to couple with the frame, the cushion assembly being according to claim 1. 26. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion and cushion support component have a spring constant characteristic in a range of 0.05 to 0.18 Newtons per millimeter. 27. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein an inner surface of the cushion support component comprises a rounded inner surface, the rounded inner surface being within a plenum chamber of the patient interface. 28. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein engagement of the peripheral lip and foam cushion form an overhang foam portion in at least one section along the periphery of the peripheral lip. 29. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion support component comprises a cushion coupling portion having a first surface inside a plenum chamber of the patient interface, the cushion coupling portion having a second surface on an opposing side of the first surface, wherein the foam cushion is mounted to the second surface. 30. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein a cushion coupling portion of the cushion support component is configured to provide a roll-in response toward plenum chamber of the patient interface in use. 31. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion comprises a nasal recess adapted to receive the patient's nose in use. 32. The foam cushion assembly of claim 31 wherein the nasal recess is formed by partially removing a flat contact surface of the foam cushion. 33. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion support component comprises a foam cushion coupling portion providing a contact surface to which the foam cushion is attached. 34. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein, the cushion support component has an inwardly concave shape. 35. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the height to thickness ratio is in a range of 10 to 100. 36. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the height to thickness ratio is in a range of 5 to 80. 37. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the height to thickness ratio is in a range of 3 to 80. 38. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein a nasal bridge region of the cushion support component has a height to thickness ratio in a range of 5 to 80. 39. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein a sides of nose region of the cushion support component has a height to thickness ratio in a range of 5 to 80. 40. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein a sides of mouth region of the cushion support component has a height to thickness ratio in a range of 3 to 80. 41. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein a bottom of mouth region of the cushion support component has a height to thickness ratio in a range of 10 to 100. 42. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion support component is characterized by the height to thickness ratio of at least 3 around an entire periphery of the cushion support component. 43. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion is arranged to form with the patient interface frame a common plenum chamber for the nose and mouth. 44. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion assembly further comprises a mouth seal portion. 45. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion support component has a higher rigidity and/or hardness than the foam cushion. 46. The foam cushion assembly of claim 45 further comprising the patient interface frame, wherein the patient interface frame has a higher rigidity and/or hardness than the cushion support component. 47. The foam cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the foam cushion and cushion support component have a spring constant characteristic in a range of 0.07 to 0.11 Newtons per millimeter. 48. A foam cushion assembly for a patient interface, the foam cushion assembly being adapted to couple with a patient interface frame, the foam cushion assembly comprising at least a nose seal portion, wherein the foam cushion assembly comprises: a foam cushion arranged for sealing about at least the nose of a patient, anda cushion support component arranged to couple to the foam cushion, wherein the cushion support component is characterised by a height to thickness ratio of at least 3, around at least a portion of a periphery of the foam cushion, wherein the foam cushion has one or more of:(a) an indentation hardness characteristic in a range of about 110.48 to 303.11 Newtons;(b) a compression stress strain characteristic in a range of about 2.32 to 7.26 kilo-pascals;(c) an apparent density characteristic in a range of about 24.3 to 117.85 kilograms per meter cubed; and(d) a compression set characteristic in a range of about 0.16 to 17.30 percent. 49. A foam cushion assembly for a patient interface, the foam cushion assembly being adapted to couple with a patient interface frame, the foam cushion assembly comprising at least a nose seal portion, wherein the foam cushion assembly comprises: a foam cushion arranged for sealing about at least the nose of a patient, anda cushion support component arranged to couple to the foam cushion, wherein the cushion support component is characterised by a height to thickness ratio of at least 3, around at least a portion of a periphery of the foam cushion, wherein the foam cushion has:(a) an indentation hardness characteristic in a range of about 110.48 to 303.11 Newtons;(b) a compression stress strain characteristic in a range of about 2.32 to 7.26 kilo-pascals;(c) an apparent density characteristic in a range of about 24.3 to 117.85 kilograms per meter cubed; and(d) a compression set characteristic in a range of about 0.16 to 17.30 percent. 50. A foam cushion assembly for a patient interface, the foam cushion assembly being adapted to couple with a patient interface frame, the foam cushion assembly comprising at least a nose seal portion, wherein the foam cushion assembly comprises: a foam cushion arranged for sealing about at least the nose of a patient, anda cushion support component arranged to couple to the foam cushion, wherein the cushion support component is characterised by a height to thickness ratio of at least 3, around at least a portion of a periphery of the foam cushion, wherein the cushion support component is L, C or Z-shaped. 51. A foam cushion assembly for a patient interface, the foam cushion assembly being adapted to couple with a patient interface frame, the foam cushion assembly comprising at least a nose seal portion, wherein the foam cushion assembly comprises: a foam cushion arranged for sealing about at least a nose of a patient, anda cushion support component arranged to couple to the foam cushion,wherein the foam cushion and the cushion support component in combination have a spring constant characteristic in a range of 0.05 to 0.11 Newtons per millimeter.