Reinforcing member for a patient interface

摘要

A patient interface (100) comprising a frame (12) and a cushion (14) having a non-face-contacting portion (22) connected to the frame (12) and a face-contacting portion (24) adapted to engage the patient's face in use. The face-contacting portion (24) includes a side wall (28) and a flexible membrane (32) extending from the side wall (28). The patient interface further comprises a reinforcing member (20) provided to at least a portion (24) of an interior and/or exterior surface of the side wall of the cushion. The reinforcing member provides reinforcement to the side wall of the cushion to at least limit lateral expansion of the cushion in use. Furthermore, the reinforcing has a width and/or depth that is selectively varied along its length to vary the stiffness and hence a level of reinforcement being provided to selected regions of the cushion.