Auto-Adjusting Mask Headgear for Leak Control and Comfort
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breathing mask interfaces experience issues such as leaks and discomfort due to elastic straps that stretch, leading to uneven fit and pressure distribution, especially at varying treatment pressures, and nasal cannulas are prone to dislodgment and misalignment from hose tension.
Innovation Solution
An auto-adjusting mechanism that combines stretch and non-stretch headgear components with a restriction mechanism to maintain a balanced fit, using a transformational locking behavior to counteract blow-off and hose pull forces, ensuring minimal force against the face while securing the mask or cannula.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elastic straps are used to allow the headgear to slide over the head, then ease of donning is improved, but the mask becomes unstable at varying treatment pressures due to stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear employs elastic straps that dynamically adjust their tension based on treatment pressure. The elastic material allows the strap to stretch and retract, automatically adapting to pressure changes without manual intervention, thus maintaining both ease of donning and mask stability across varying therapeutic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic straps change their physical parameters (length, tension) in response to treatment pressure variations. This parameter change allows the headgear to maintain optimal fit and stability at different pressure levels while remaining easy to don, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and reliability.
2Reliability
If non-elastic straps are used to reduce mask movement, then mask stability is improved, but the headgear becomes difficult to don and may over-tighten the user's face
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear uses elastic straps that dynamically adjust their tension based on treatment pressure. The elastic material allows the strap to stretch and retract, automatically adapting to pressure changes without manual intervention, thus maintaining both ease of donning and mask stability across varying therapeutic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic straps change their physical parameters (length, tension) in response to treatment pressure variations. This parameter change allows the headgear to maintain optimal fit and stability at different pressure levels while remaining easy to don, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and reliability.
3Ease of operation
If elastic straps are stretched to fit over the head, then ease of donning is improved, but blow-off force increases causing leaks at higher pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear employs elastic straps that dynamically adjust their tension based on treatment pressure. The elastic material allows the strap to stretch and retract, automatically adapting to pressure changes without manual intervention, thus maintaining both ease of donning and mask stability across varying therapeutic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic straps change their physical parameters (length, tension) in response to treatment pressure variations. This parameter change allows the headgear to maintain optimal fit and stability at different pressure levels while remaining easy to don, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and reliability.
4Reliability
If the headgear is tightened to prevent leaks, then seal integrity is improved, but unnecessary forces are applied to the user's face and head
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear employs elastic straps that dynamically adjust their tension based on treatment pressure. The elastic material allows the strap to stretch and retract, automatically adapting to pressure changes without manual intervention, thus maintaining both ease of donning and mask stability across varying therapeutic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic straps change their physical parameters (length, tension) in response to treatment pressure variations. This parameter change allows the headgear to maintain optimal fit and stability at different pressure levels while remaining easy to don, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and reliability.
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 mechanism provides a comfortable, secure fit that maintains seal integrity across varying pressures and positions, reducing leaks and dislodgment, enhancing user comfort and therapy effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
When donning an interface having an elastic strap, the elastic strap is stretched to allow the headgear to slide over the head of the user. When released, the elastic strap tends to pull the interface against the face of the user.
Implementation Method 2
An auto-adjusting mechanism that combines stretch and non-stretch headgear components with a restriction mechanism to maintain a balanced fit, using a transformational locking behavior to counteract blow-off and hose pull forces
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A patient interface (1950) comprising a mask (1952) and headgear (1954) for securing the mask to a user's face, the headgear comprising an elastic portion (1966) configured to provide a retraction force, a non-elastic portion (1964) configured to be inelastic in comparison to the elastic portion, and a restriction mechanism (1960) connected to the non-elastic portion and to the elastic portion, the restriction mechanism configured to require a first resistance force to permit elongation of the headgear and having a second resistance force in response to retraction of the headgear, wherein the restriction mechanism comprises a directional lock arrangement (1960) comprising a lock member (1962) having a lock position and a release position, wherein the non-elastic portion comprises a core member (1964), and the core member passes through the directional lock arrangement, wherein the elastic portion comprises an elastic strap (1966) of tubular construction including an interior passage that accommodates the core member such that the core member can move within the elastic portion, the elastic strap comprising a braid of multiple individual strands or yarns that are relatively inelastic, and a biasing arrangement (1824) that biases the strap to a compressed position, the biasing arrangement comprising one or more elastic fibers within the braid, and wherein the retraction force tends to move the core member through the directional lock arrangement such that in use the lock member transitions from the lock position to the release position and the restriction mechanism has the second resistance force.