Attachment for a device for generating an airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices fail to efficiently and safely remove moisture and cerumen from the external ear canal without risking injury to the eardrum, and existing fluid delivery methods for ear care often result in incomplete treatment due to direct fluid impact on the eardrum.
Innovation Solution
An attachment for airflow and fluid delivery devices featuring a tongue-like guide vane with curved sections that creates a vortex field within the ear canal, directing airflow and fluid to the side walls to avoid direct contact with the eardrum, ensuring efficient and safe drying, cerumen removal, and treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If airflow is directed directly onto the eardrum to dry the ear canal, then drying efficiency is improved, but the risk of eardrum injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide vane as an intermediary component between the airflow source and the eardrum. The guide vane redirects the airflow along the ear canal walls, preventing direct impact on the eardrum while maintaining drying effectiveness through prolonged contact with the canal surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide vane is designed with a curved surface that matches the curvature of the ear canal. This curved geometry allows the airflow to be smoothly redirected along the natural contour of the canal, ensuring gentle contact with the walls while avoiding direct impingement on the eardrum.
2Productivity
If the attachment is designed to reach deep into the ear canal to remove moisture accumulations, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of insertion and positioning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment is divided into modular components: a handle portion for manipulation and a separate guide vane portion for insertion. This segmentation allows the guide vane to be independently positioned at the desired depth while the handle remains externally accessible for control and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide vane extends along the longitudinal axis of the ear canal, utilizing the depth dimension to reach moisture accumulations near the eardrum. Simultaneously, the cross-sectional geometry of the guide vane creates airflow patterns that enhance cleaning effectiveness without requiring excessive insertion depth.
3Productivity
If fluid is directed directly to the eardrum for cerumen removal, then removal efficiency is improved, but the risk of eardrum injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vane serves as a mediator that redirects fluid flow along the ear canal walls, preventing direct impact on the eardrum. The curved surface of the guide vane ensures fluid follows the natural contour of the canal, maintaining removal effectiveness while eliminating direct eardrum contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved geometry of the guide vane matches the ear canal's natural curvature, allowing fluid to be smoothly guided along the walls. This curved path ensures fluid contacts the canal surfaces for effective cerumen removal while avoiding direct impingement on the eardrum.
4Ease of operation
If the attachment cannot be pushed deep into the ear canal, then insertion simplicity is maintained, but the ability to reach moisture accumulations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment is segmented into a handle portion and a guide vane portion that can be independently positioned. This allows the guide vane to be inserted to the necessary depth to reach moisture accumulations while the handle remains externally accessible, maintaining operational simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide vane utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the ear canal to reach deep into the structure, extending along the axis to access moisture accumulations near the eardrum. This dimensional extension enables deep reach without complicating the overall insertion mechanism.
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 attachment enables rapid and effective drying of the ear canal within 30 seconds, gentle cerumen removal, and thorough ear care without risking eardrum injury, by utilizing a vortex field to distribute airflow and fluid effectively along the ear canal walls.
Implementation Method 1
guiding air flowing out of the device for generating airflow... creates a vortex field within the ear canal
Implementation Method 2
guide vane base of a first section of the guide vane has a longitudinal cross-sectional profile, which is curved in a first direction, and the guide vane base of a second section of the guide vane has a longitudinal cross-sectional profile, which is curved in a second direction
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment for a device for generating an airflow or for dispensing a fluid, which attachment is adapted to be inserted at least in sections into an external ear canal of a human or animal ear. The attachment has a connecting piece for connecting the attachment to the device for generating an airflow, and has a guide vane of tongue-like design with a guide vane base for guiding air flowing out of the device for generating an airflow via the connecting piece.