Cannula Holder With Resilient Arm And Gastric Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cannula holders for endotracheal and laryngeal masks lack adaptability to different diameters, often cause discomfort and risk of infection, and fail to securely hold the cannula in place without obstructing airflow or causing trauma.
Innovation Solution
A cannula holder with a main body having a tunnel and flange for guiding and protecting the cannula, an extensible strap for secure positioning, and asymmetrical holding means with teeth for graduated regulation, allowing cannulas of various diameters and incorporating a gastric aspiration tube guide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed aperture holder is used, then the cannula is securely held in position, but the device cannot adapt to cannulas of different diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The holder incorporates a resilient arm that can deflect and adapt to different cannula diameters. The arm is biased by a spring to maintain contact with the cannula, allowing dynamic adjustment while securing the cannula firmly in place. This resolves the contradiction by making the holding mechanism adaptable to various sizes while maintaining reliable fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder design allows the aperture and holding surfaces to change their position and configuration based on the cannula diameter. The resilient arm can be positioned at different angles and depths to accommodate different sized cannulas, while the spring mechanism maintains appropriate holding force across all sizes, thus adapting the parameter of holding force and aperture position to match different cannula dimensions.
2Ease of operation
If grooves and holes are added to the holder body, then insertion is facilitated, but biological material accumulates causing infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts the insertion facilitation function from complex grooves and holes into a simple tapered aperture shape. The tapered aperture naturally guides the cannula during insertion without requiring additional structural features, thereby eliminating the surfaces where biological material could accumulate and causing infections.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding complex internal features (grooves, holes) to facilitate insertion, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple external tapered shape that guides insertion passively. The tapered aperture itself performs the guidance function that would otherwise require internal grooves, thus avoiding the infection risk while maintaining ease of insertion.
3Ease of manufacture
If the holder structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but the ability to prevent unwanted movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is segmented into distinct functional components: a resilient arm for positioning, a spring for applying holding force, and a tapered aperture for guidance. Each component is simple to manufacture individually, yet together they provide robust prevention of unwanted movement through multiple independent mechanisms working in concert.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges multiple functions into a compact structure: the resilient arm simultaneously provides positioning and acts as a lever for the spring force, while the tapered aperture provides both insertion guidance and final positioning. This merging achieves reliable movement prevention without requiring complex separate mechanisms, maintaining ease of manufacture.
4Ease of operation
If a bite block is used to keep jaws spread, then cannula insertion is facilitated, but the device cannot be repositioned without disturbing the block
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient arm acts as an intermediary between the holder body and the cannula. It provides the necessary positioning and holding force while being independent of the bite block position. This allows the holder to be repositioned on the patient's face without requiring removal or repositioning of the bite block, as the resilient arm adapts to the new position while maintaining cannula fixation.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cannula holder having a guide for a stomach tube, which consists of a main body or mask; a male-female type of holder attached to said main body or mask, which provides graduated support for an endotracheal cannula; a support substrate that is attached to the rear part of the main body or mask; and an extensible band or strap, the ends of which are attached to each of the lateral ends of the main body or mask, wherein said extensible band or strap extends around and behind the head of the patient or user to keep the cannula holder having a guide for a stomach tube in place. The invention also relates to the fact that the holder, in addition to being used for holding an endotracheal cannula, can be used to hold any other medical device used in connection with the oral airways, such as a laryngeal mask.