Ear-Mounted Cannular Nasal Filter with Air Mixing Chamber
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current nasal breathing filters lack effective sealing, sufficient airflow, adequate filter surface area, and the use of rated filter materials, making them ineffective in filtering harmful airborne particulates while providing comfort and convenience.
Innovation Solution
The Ear Mounted Cannular Nasal Breathing Filter addresses these issues by incorporating an air chamber that recycles exhaled breaths to mix with fresh filtered air, an ergonomic ear mount for comfort and stability, a specialized filter mount with a replaceable PM 2.5 filter, and a one-way valve for efficient airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intra-nasal filter units are used to provide comfort and seal, then sealing is improved, but filter surface area and filtering effectiveness deteriorate due to very small filter size and use of ineffective materials
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system is divided into multiple components: a nasal cannula with bilateral filters, an air chamber assembly with additional filtration, and a ear-mount retention system. This segmentation allows each component to contribute to both sealing and filtering surface area, overcoming the limitation of single small intra-nasal filters.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extends the filter system from the nasal cavity into the external environment via ear-mounted air chamber assemblies. By adding this external dimension, the system achieves large filter surface area and high sealing effectiveness without being constrained by the small internal nasal space.
2Reliability
If standard rated filters with sufficient surface area are used, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The air chamber assemblies serve multiple functions: they house the filtration system, provide structural support for ear-mount retention, create negative pressure to draw air through filters, and position the filters optimally. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining high filtering effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the user's own respiratory mechanics to drive airflow through the filters. Exhalation creates negative pressure that automatically draws ambient air through the PM 2.5 filters without requiring external power sources or complex active pumping mechanisms.
3Temperature
If exhaled air is fully recycled to maintain humidity and warmth, then air conditioning is improved, but carbon dioxide buildup and oxygen depletion worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different qualities to different portions of the air stream. The air chamber assemblies pre-condition a portion of the inhaled air with warmth and humidity from exhaled air, while the PM 2.5 filters ensure fresh ambient air is mixed in. This local differentiation allows humidity maintenance without harmful gas accumulation.
4Reliability
If PM 2.5 filters are used to provide sufficient filtration, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but air flow resistance and breathing effort worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration load is segmented across multiple PM 2.5 filters distributed throughout the system (in nasal cannula and air chamber assemblies). This distribution reduces the resistance of any single filter while maintaining overall filtration effectiveness, making breathing easier compared to using one large high-resistance filter.
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
This solution provides effective filtration of airborne particulates, maintains humidity and warmth in the inhaled air, and ensures comfortable, long-term use without the drawbacks of existing nasal filters.
Implementation Method 1
an air chamber that recycles exhaled breaths to mix with fresh filtered air
Implementation Method 2
a one-way valve for efficient airflow
Implementation Method 3
a specialized filter mount with a replaceable PM 2.5 filter
Data Source
AI summary
An ear mounted cannular nasal breathing filter provides an air mixing chamber to offset the effects of dry air caused by filtration by allowing for an admixture of filtered and pre-conditioned (humidified and heated) air. The air chamber features an internal or centered mixing chamber disposed below a one-way exhaust valve and above a filtering system. The air mixing chamber retains a predefined volume or percentage of exhausted breath that is mixed with a predefined volume or percentage of filtered air, with the filtered air originating as ambient air. An air chamber assembly is retained and supported upon a user by an ear mount system comprising a) a flexible wire that conforms to the ear join, or b) an upper arm in telescopic connection with a lower arm, with the two arms in dynamic tension by use of an internal elastic member, providing a tensioned fit to the ear join.