Dual-Cushion Patient Interface for Comfort and Seal Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient interface devices for non-invasive ventilation and pressure support therapies often compromise between comfort and leak minimization, with many focusing force on a small area of the face and lacking a stable support platform, leading to discomfort and potential gas leaks.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface device featuring a dual-cushion design, including a seal cushion for forming a leak-resistant seal and a support cushion that distributes compressive forces over a larger area, providing comfort and stability by overlapping the seal cushion's area, thus minimizing leaks and enhancing user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mask is compressed against the patient's face to maintain a seal without gas leaks, then the sealing performance is improved, but the patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion is divided into multiple functional zones with different properties: a sealing zone with higher compliance for forming leaks-free seals, and a support zone with lower compliance for distributing forces and enhancing comfort. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cushion have different compliance characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The sealing portion has higher compliance to conform to facial contours and form seals, while the support portion has lower compliance to provide stable support and distribute forces, creating local quality variations that resolve the contradiction between sealing and comfort.
2Device complexity
If conventional single-cushion designs are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to provide both comfort and stable support deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion is segmented into distinct sealing and support portions, each with optimized characteristics for their respective functions. This segmentation provides stable support and comfort while maintaining a relatively simple integrated cushion structure, avoiding the need for complex multi-component systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cushion structure performs multiple functions: the sealing portion forms leaks-free seals, while the support portion distributes forces and provides stable support. This multi-functionality within a unified cushion design achieves reliable support stability without significantly increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface device that includes a mask shell and a cushion assembly. The cushion assembly includes a seal cushion and a support cushion. The seal cushion contacts a first area of a patient's face to form a seal therewith. The support cushion defines a second area over a face of such a patient when the patient interface device is being worn. The second area overlaps at least a portion of the first area.