Cannula Support Helical Cord for Skin Irritation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cannula flexible plastic tubes cause skin irritation and discomfort due to constant contact, especially around the ears, leading to indentations, redness, and sores, and existing solutions like foam protectors tend to slip or dislodge, failing to provide effective support and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A helical cord made of breathable, interwoven spiral-bound fibers with a polyester outer sheath and an inner cord, designed to conform to the cannula tube's curved surface, providing a secure fit and reducing friction to prevent sliding, while allowing moisture ventilation and minimizing skin contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a foam tube is used to cover the cannula tube, then skin irritation is reduced, but the foam tube slips down and dislodges from the curved area of the ear
Solution Approach 1:
The support is formed with a curved configuration that matches the contour of the ear, allowing it to conform to the curved surface and remain in place without slipping down. The curved shape provides natural engagement with the ear's anatomy, improving position stability while maintaining skin protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The support is made from a flexible, thin material that can bend and conform to the curved surface of the ear. This flexibility allows the support to adapt to the ear's shape while maintaining secure contact, preventing slippage without requiring adhesive tapes or complex structures.
2Strength
If the support is made straight and stiff, then it provides structural support, but it cannot conform to the curved area of the ear
Solution Approach 1:
The support is designed with a curved shape that mirrors the contour of the ear, enabling it to conform to the curved surface. This curved geometry maintains structural integrity while adapting to the anatomical shape, providing both support and fit.
Solution Approach 2:
The support is made from a flexible material that can dynamically adapt its shape to conform to the ear's surface. The material's flexibility allows it to bend and mold to the curved area while maintaining sufficient structural support to prevent skin contact with the cannula tube.
3Reliability
If adhesive tape is applied to prevent support movement, then position stability is improved, but skin irritation and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved configuration of the support allows it to naturally engage with the ear's contour, providing position stability through geometric conformity rather than adhesive attachment. This eliminates the need for tape while maintaining secure placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The support's curved shape enables it to self-secure to the ear through its own geometry, without requiring external adhesives or fasteners. The design inherently provides stability through its form, allowing it to stay in place without additional components that could irritate the skin.
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 cannula support effectively reduces skin irritation and discomfort by maintaining a secure, comfortable fit around the ear, preventing the cannula tube from sticking to the skin and minimizing movement-related injuries, with the breathable material enhancing skin comfort and the helical design preventing sliding.
Implementation Method 1
a polyester outer sheath made from a series of interwoven spiral-bound fibers forming a porous material that permits moisture to vent from the skin surface
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of elastic coils that conform to a curved exterior surface of a cannula tube by expanding along a major or outer diameter and contracting without bunching along a minor or inner diameter
Implementation Method 3
this outer sheath of the cannula support preferably has a coefficient of friction that substantially prevents sliding movement along the length of the cannula tube when mounted thereon
Data Source
AI summary
The cannula support includes a helical cord flexible along its length to permit selective axial displacement of adjacent coils for insertion of a cannula tube therein and a breathable material that permits prolonged skin contact substantially without irritation. Furthermore, the cannula support includes an exterior surface having a coefficient of friction substantially preventing sliding movement along the length of the cannula tube when mounted thereon.