Chest-Mounted Air Diffusion Device for Stable Oxygen Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supplemental air delivery methods, such as masks and nasal devices, are uncomfortable, unsightly, and pose health risks, while improvised funnel devices are unstable and prone to leakage, making them unsuitable for use in various positions or by infants and young children.
Innovation Solution
A supplemental air diffusion device with a frustroconicoidal diffusion body and inlet stem, featuring coupling means for secure attachment of an air hose and accessory patient attachment devices, allowing for reliable and non-intrusive delivery of oxygen without covering the face, and providing stability through multiple attachment points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an oxygen mask is used to deliver supplemental air, then effective oxygen delivery is achieved, but patient comfort and social acceptability deteriorate due to claustrophobia, unsightliness, and speech inhibition
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the oxygen delivery function from the face-covering mask and relocates it to a chest-mounted device. The diffusion body is positioned on the patient's chest with the opening facing upward, delivering oxygen away from the face, thereby eliminating claustrophobia and speech inhibition while maintaining effective oxygen delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary diffusion body that acts as a mediator between the oxygen source and the patient's respiratory system. Instead of direct face-to-mask contact, oxygen is delivered through the diffusion body's opening, allowing ambient air mixing and reducing direct facial contact, thereby improving comfort while maintaining effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If a nasal device is used to deliver supplemental air, then face visibility and speech ability are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to nasal breathing requirements and tube detachment risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the oxygen delivery point from the nasal region and relocates it to the chest area. By positioning the diffusion body on the chest with its opening facing upward, the system eliminates the need for nasal insertion and tube attachment, thereby improving reliability while maintaining face visibility and speech ability.
3Ease of operation
If an improvised funnel device is used to deliver supplemental air, then face coverage is avoided improving comfort, but stability deteriorates due to detachment and leakage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the funnel shape with a secure mounting system by integrating the diffusion body with a headband or chest strap. This combination maintains the non-intrusive, face-free design for patient comfort while providing stable attachment to the patient's body, eliminating detachment and leakage risks associated with improvised devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates preliminary securing mechanisms (headband, chest strap, or adhesive elements) that are pre-integrated with the diffusion body. These attachment means are prepared in advance to ensure stable positioning on the patient's chest or head, preventing detachment and leakage before they can occur during use.
4Reliability
If supplemental air is delivered effectively to ensure oxygen supply, then patient safety is improved, but social acceptability deteriorates due to visible masks and audible air bursts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the visible and audible elements of oxygen delivery from the facial region and relocates them to the chest area. The diffusion body mounted on the chest delivers oxygen away from the face, reducing visual prominence and eliminating audible air bursts near the mouth, thereby improving social acceptability while maintaining adequate oxygenation for patient safety.
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 device ensures consistent and safe delivery of supplemental air to patients in various positions, reducing the risk of detachment and leakage, and is aesthetically pleasing, making it suitable for use by infants and children without compromising oxygen supply.
Implementation Method 1
a frustroconicoidal diffusion body integrally attached to the inlet stem
Data Source
AI summary
A supplemental air diffusion device is shaped and configured to be attached to the body or clothing of a patient below the head and deliver supplemental air toward the mouth and nose of the patient. The supplemental air diffusion device includes a frustroconicoidal air diffusion body that has a smaller inlet opening at an inlet end and an enlarged diffusion opening at a diffusion end. An air inlet stem is integrally attached to the air diffusion body and includes a plurality of ribs and/or recesses for releasably locking a female connector of an air supply hose over the inlet stem. A pair of spaced-apart slits are provided through a flange extending laterally from an outer surface of the air diffusion device. Initially separate accessory patient attachment clamps are looped through the slits and provide for releasable attachment of the air diffusion device to a patient's clothing. A kit may include an air diffusion device, one or more accessory patient attachment clamps, and an air supply hose for establishing fluid communication between the air diffusion device and an air supply.