Closed-Loop Respiratory Mask Headgear for Stable Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory mask systems face challenges in maintaining a stable and airtight seal, particularly due to the reduced contact area with the user's face, which can lead to leaks and reduced effectiveness of respiratory therapies like CPAP.
Innovation Solution
The development of a headgear for respiratory masks featuring an integrally formed closed loop design, comprising a yoke, side arms, and a top strap, which provides enhanced support and stability to the patient interface, thereby maintaining a secure seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the headgear uses a traditional open-loop design, then the device complexity is lower and easier to manufacture, but the stability and seal reliability are reduced due to insufficient support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the yoke, side arms, and top strap into a single integrally formed closed-loop headgear structure. This integration eliminates the need for multiple separate components and complex assembly mechanisms, while providing continuous support around the user's head to maintain seal reliability between the patient interface and the face.
2Ease of operation
If the patient interface has reduced contact area with the user's face, then the ease of operation and comfort are improved, but the seal reliability deteriorates leading to leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The closed-loop headgear structure acts as a counterbalancing system that distributes and compensates for forces acting on the reduced-contact patient interface. The continuous loop provides opposing support forces that maintain the seal despite the smaller contact area between the mask and user's face.
3Weight of moving object
If the headgear provides minimal support, then the weight and device complexity are reduced, but the stability of the patient interface deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closed-loop headgear follows the natural curvature of the user's head, creating a distributed support system that leverages the head's spherical geometry. This curved, continuous structure provides stable support for the patient interface without requiring excessive weight or complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A respiratory mask system is provided. The respiratory mask system has a patient interface that is secured to a user's head by a headgear. The patient interface comprises a seal, a frame and a gas delivery conduit. The frame is configured to secure the seal and gas delivery conduit together. The frame comprises a recessed channel and/or headgear retaining features configured to connect the headgear to the patient interface. The frame can include an inlet collar that connects to a gas delivery conduit. The inlet collar can include bias flow holes. The headgear comprises a top strap, a pair of side arms, a yoke and a rear strap. The yoke is configured to connect to the recessed channel of the frame. The top strap, side arms and yoke form an integrally formed closed loop. The top strap can include two portions adjustably connected to each other.