REINFORCING MEMBER FOR A PATIENT INTERFACE

摘要

A patient interface (100) includes a frame (12), a cushion (14), and a reinforcing member (20). The cushion (14) has 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 reinforcing member (20) is provided to at least a portion of an interior and/or exterior surface of the side wall (28) of the cushion (14). The reinforcing member (20) provides reinforcement to the side wall (28) of the cushion (14) to at least limit lateral expansion of the cushion (14) in use. The reinforcing member (20) may have a stiffness that is selectively varied along its length.