Deformable Seal Insert for Low-Pressure Patient Interface Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas delivery interfaces for treating sleep disorders, such as nasal masks and cannulas, often cause discomfort and inadequate sealing at low pressure conditions, leading to suboptimal user experience.
Innovation Solution
A deformable insert designed to fit inside the interface seal, made of materials like foam or inflatable cells, which provides a soft cushion and adjusts to pressure changes, ensuring comfortable sealing and effective gas delivery even at low inflation pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid or semi-rigid interface seal is used to maintain sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to pressure on the nose tip and facial skin
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is divided into two functional components: a rigid or semi-rigid seal structure for maintaining sealing effectiveness, and a separate deformable insert for providing comfort. The insert is positioned between the seal and the user's face, allowing each component to perform its specialized function without compromise
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable insert acts as an intermediary element between the rigid seal and the user's face. It absorbs the mechanical stress and pressure, preventing direct contact between the rigid structure and sensitive facial areas while maintaining the sealing function
2Object-affected harmful factors
If low inflation pressure is used for comfort, then user comfort is improved, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable insert changes its physical parameters (shape, density, or firmness) in response to pressure changes. This allows the interface to maintain effective sealing at low inflation pressures by having the insert adapt its properties to compensate for the reduced pressure, ensuring both comfort and sealing effectiveness
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a soft deformable insert is added for comfort, then user comfort is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable insert is nested within the seal structure, fitting inside or between the existing seal components. This nested configuration allows the additional comfort function to be integrated into the existing interface design with minimal increase in overall complexity
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 deformable insert enhances user comfort and maintains effective sealing across a range of pressures, providing a more comfortable and reliable gas delivery experience.
Implementation Method 1
The insert can prevent undue or uncomfortable pressure against the tip of the user's nose and/or facial skin
Implementation Method 2
A deformable insert designed to fit inside the interface seal, made of materials like foam or inflatable cells, which provides a soft cushion and adjusts to pressure changes
Implementation Method 3
provides a soft cushion and adjusts to pressure changes, ensuring comfortable sealing and effective gas delivery even at low inflation pressures
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface includes a frame, an inflatable seal, and a deformable insert. The frame includes an outer portion, an inner portion, and an opening extending therebetween. The inflatable seal is secured to the inner portion of the frame. The inflatable seal defines an internal volume and has at least one aperture. The deformable insert includes an outer surface, an inner surface and a passageway extending therebetween. The deformable insert is positioned within the internal volume of the seal and aligned with at least a portion of the frame inner portion. The passageway is aligned with the frame opening to define a gas flow path from the frame outer portion to the at least one aperture of the seal.