Elbow Assembly Anti-Asphyxia Valve Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mask assemblies for CPAP and NPPV treatments face issues with inadvertent or incorrect assembly of safety devices, leading to potential health risks due to carbon dioxide buildup during power outages or mechanical failures.
Innovation Solution
An elbow assembly with a slot and port, incorporating an anti-asphyxia valve with a flap portion that selectively closes the port based on pressurized gas presence, and a support member with interlocking features to secure the valve, preventing misassembly and ensuring correct installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If safety devices are added to mask assemblies, then patient safety is improved, but assembly complexity increases leading to inadvertent or incorrect assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The elbow assembly uses asymmetric features including a keyed slot that accepts only one orientation of the anti-asphyxia valve, and wings on the support member that protrude outwardly to prevent incorrect assembly. The slot has a specific geometry that matches only the correct orientation of the valve protrusion, ensuring asymmetric fit that prevents inadvertent misassembly while maintaining safety function.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-asphyxia valve is received within the slot of the elbow assembly, with the support member securing the valve inside the elbow structure. The valve is nested within the elbow assembly, and the support member with wings is nested within the elbow, creating a compact integrated structure that reduces assembly complexity despite adding safety functionality.
2Reliability
If components are made secure and interlocked, then assembly reliability is improved, but ease of repair and re-assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elbow assembly is segmented into distinct components: the elbow body, the anti-asphyxia valve, and the support member. The support member can be removed to access and replace the anti-asphyxia valve if needed, providing modular segmentation that maintains secure interlocking during operation while enabling ease of repair and re-assembly when required.
Data Source
AI summary
An elbow assembly for a mask system includes an elbow including a slot and a port, an anti-asphyxia valve adapted to be received within the slot and including a flap portion adapted to selectively close the port depending on the presence of pressurized gas, and a support member to secure the anti-asphyxia valve to the elbow. The support member includes a slot that is adapted to interlock with a protrusion provided to the anti-asphyxia valve.