Conduit Headgear for CPAP Mask Stability and Air Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory therapy devices, such as CPAP machines and masks, face challenges in comfort, ease of use, and compliance due to issues like discomfort, poor fitting, and complexity, particularly for patients with respiratory disorders like sleep apnea, leading to reduced effectiveness and adherence to treatment.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface with a cushion assembly and positioning structure that forms a seal around the nose and maintains it effectively during therapy, using a combination of a seal-forming structure and a stabilizing structure to ensure a comfortable and secure fit, allowing for improved delivery of positive air pressure therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional headgear systems are used to secure the patient interface, then the mask can be held in place, but the system becomes complex and uncomfortable for the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conduit function from the traditional headgear system. The conduit is configured to extend from the front of the patient's head to the rear, providing both structural support for mask positioning and air delivery functionality in a single integrated component, thereby removing the need for separate headgear straps and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support to maintain mask positioning on the patient's face, delivers pressurized air from the therapy device to the patient interface, and acts as a stabilizing element. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the system
2Reliability
If traditional headgear systems are used to secure the patient interface, then the mask can be held in place, but the patient experiences discomfort reduced compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is configured to extend along the patient's head in a flexible manner, conforming to the contours of the patient's anatomy. This flexible design provides necessary structural support for mask positioning while maintaining patient comfort through adaptation to individual head shapes, reducing discomfort compared to rigid traditional headgear systems
3Reliability
If a seal-forming structure is used to form a seal around the patient's nose, then positive air pressure can be delivered effectively, but the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the seal-forming structure with the positioning structure into an integrated patient interface. The seal-forming portion is configured to form a seal around the patient's nose while the positioning structure secures the interface to the patient's head, combining sealing and positioning functions in a single integrated component rather than separate elements
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A patient has a cushion forming at least part of a plenum chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure. The cushion includes a seal-forming structure to form a seal with a region of a patient's face surrounding the entrance to the patient's nares; a positioning and stabilising structure to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a patient's head, the positioning and stabilizing structure comprising a first and second headgear sections each adapted to extend towards the cushion from the rear of the patient's head, the first headgear section comprising a hollow tube configured to convey pressurized gas at the therapeutic pressure from the rear or crown of the patient's head to the cushion, the second headgear section comprising a strap.