Custom Nasal Patient Interface for Fit and Seal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapy devices, such as patient interfaces and RPT devices, suffer from discomfort, poor fit, noise, and difficulty in use, leading to reduced patient compliance and ineffective treatment of respiratory disorders.
Innovation Solution
Customization of patient interface components, including seal-forming structures and positioning systems, based on individual patient data, along with portable and easy-to-clean RPT devices, to enhance comfort and efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standardized patient interfaces are used, then manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but fit quality and patient comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Patient-specific anatomical data is collected and processed before manufacturing the patient interface. A custom fit model is created in advance based on scans or impressions of the patient's face, allowing the interface to be precisely tailored to individual anatomical variations before production begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient interface is customized with location-specific adaptations based on the patient's unique facial anatomy. Different regions of the interface are tailored to match specific anatomical features such as nasal contours, cheek structure, and forehead shape, ensuring optimal seal and comfort for each individual patient.
2Manufacturing precision
If custom patient interfaces are manufactured for each patient, then fit quality and comfort are improved, but manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process utilizes variable parameters derived from patient-specific anatomical measurements. By changing key dimensional parameters based on scanned or impressed data, the system generates customized interface geometries through automated modeling and manufacturing processes, reducing manual intervention complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A digital replica or model of the patient's facial anatomy is created through scanning or molding techniques. This digital copy serves as the basis for designing and manufacturing the custom interface, eliminating the need for complex manual fitting procedures and enabling precise reproduction of the optimal fit.
3Reliability
If patient-specific customization is implemented, then patient compliance and treatment effectiveness are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-customization by using patient-specific anatomical data to generate the optimal interface design without requiring extensive manual intervention from clinicians. The automated modeling and manufacturing processes handle the customization complexity, reducing the burden on healthcare providers while maintaining high treatment effectiveness.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of air at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to the patient's airways comprising: a mask assembly comprising a frame component having an opening to a delivery tube and having a plurality of vent holes along an outer surface of the frame component above the opening; a sealing element coupleable to the mask assembly and configured to be in contact with the patient's face in use, wherein the frame component and the sealing element form a plenum chamber that defines a cavity by a perimeter of the patient's nares; and a positioning and stabilising structure, coupled to the mask assembly, the positioning and stabilising structure being configured to maintain the sealing element in sealing contact with an area surrounding the entrance to the patient's nares while maintaining a therapeutic pressure at the entrance to the patient's nares; wherein at least one of the mask assembly, the sealing element and the positioning and stabilising structure is configured to compensate for skin movement and deformation.