Air delivery conduit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air delivery conduits for Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) systems face challenges in comfort, occlusion resistance, kink resistance, and assembly complexity, often requiring adjustments and providing inadequate support for patient interfaces.
Innovation Solution
The development of an air delivery conduit with a three-dimensional shape, made from materials like textiles and silicone, featuring a substrate for crush resistance and a tubular design with anti-crush nodules, which is comfortable, occlusion-resistant, and easy to fit, using methods like blow molding and thermoforming to create a self-holding form that maintains shape and provides intimate contact with the patient's face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional air delivery conduits are used, then assembly is simple, but comfort and occlusion resistance are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The air delivery conduit employs a composite structure combining an inner sealing layer (made of materials like polyurethane or medical grade film) with an outer textile layer (thermoformable fabric). This composite construction provides both the occlusion resistance needed for reliable therapy delivery and the comfort required for patient wear, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If the conduit is made more rigid to resist kinking, then kink resistance improves, but comfort and adjustability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit implements local quality by providing structural support and kink resistance only where needed through the inner sealing layer and reinforcement structures, while the outer textile layer maintains flexibility and comfort for patient contact. This localized approach allows the conduit to resist kinking in critical areas while remaining adjustable and comfortable elsewhere.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the conduit includes more structural support, then shape holding improves, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the structural support function with the conduit body itself by integrating the inner sealing layer and reinforcement structures directly into the conduit construction. This consolidation provides effective shape holding and structural integrity while minimizing assembly complexity, as the support structures are incorporated during manufacturing rather than requiring separate assembly steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The conduit ensures comfortable and effective delivery of pressurized air, minimizes the risk of occlusion and kinking, and simplifies assembly and adjustment, enhancing patient comfort and treatment efficacy for respiratory disorders like Sleep Disordered Breathing.
Implementation Method 1
each conduit portion including an inner sealing layer that forms an interior surface of the conduit
Implementation Method 2
a substrate (e.g., a rigid substrate) disposed inside the conduit for providing crush-resistance to the conduit
Implementation Method 3
a tube having a plurality of anti-crush nodules disposed therein
Implementation Method 4
a method of forming an air delivery conduit by blow molding at least one material to form a conduit
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a mask assembly for delivering a supply of pressurized gas to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the mask assembly comprising: a patient interface configured to form a seal with the patient's face to deliver the supply of gas to the patient during treatment; an air delivery conduit configured to, in use, extend along at least one side of the patient's face between the patient's eye and ear to deliver the supply of gas to the patient interface and to at least partially support the patient interface in a desired position on the patient's face, the air delivery conduit including: first and second conduit portions that cooperate to form a tubular conduit, wherein each conduit portion includes an inner sealing layer that forms an air impermeable interior surface of the conduit and an outer layer of a textile that forms an exterior surface of the conduit, and wherein the first and second conduit portions are thermoformed to create complimentary shapes that cooperate to form the conduit.