Facemask with Face-Engagement Sensors for Pediatric Medication Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current facemasks used for delivering inhaled medications to young children are often ineffective due to distractions, discomfort, and inefficiency, leading to wasted medication and poor delivery efficiency, as children may remove the mask due to noise, boredom, or discomfort, and the transition from nebulized drugs to metered dose inhalers can be challenging.
Innovation Solution
A facemask with a skin contact perimeter and electrical contacts that sense engagement with the face, triggering audio and visual stimuli to encourage children to keep the mask in place, combined with a control circuit and power source to manage these outputs, and optionally integrated with nebulizers or MDI spacers for efficient medication delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nebulizer is used to deliver inhaled aerosols to young children, then medication can be delivered to the child, but the noise, mist generation and duration of treatment can distract and frighten the child, resulting in the child removing the facemask
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that detect whether the facemask is properly worn and provides real-time feedback through visual or audible signals to both the child and caregiver. This feedback mechanism encourages the child to keep the mask on by providing positive reinforcement, directly addressing the compliance issue caused by noise and mist distraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring system that acts as a mediator between the nebulizer treatment and the child. This system includes sensors, processors, and output devices that translate the treatment status into child-friendly visual or audible feedback, reducing the harmful psychological impact of the nebulizer's noise and mist.
2Reliability
If the treatment time for nebulized aerosols is extended to deliver an effective dose, then medication delivery efficacy is improved, but the child becomes more distracted and bored, increasing the likelihood of mask removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic visual or audible feedback signals that engage the child's attention throughout the treatment duration. These periodic stimuli are designed to maintain interest and reduce boredom, allowing the full treatment time to elapse without the child removing the mask, thereby ensuring effective medication delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback about treatment progress in an engaging manner, transforming the单调 (monotonous) treatment experience into an interactive one. This keeps the child engaged throughout the extended treatment period, preventing mask removal while ensuring complete medication delivery.
3Reliability
If the facemask is made to seal tightly to prevent drug leakage, then medication delivery efficiency is improved, but the child experiences increased discomfort, leading to mask removal
Solution Approach 1:
The sensors detect when the facemask is properly positioned and sealed, providing feedback that confirms correct usage. This feedback helps the child understand the proper way to wear the mask, maintaining the necessary seal for efficient medication delivery while reducing unnecessary discomfort from improper fitting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical sealing mechanisms with an intelligent system that uses sensors and feedback to monitor and guide proper mask positioning. This substitution allows for more precise control of the seal, ensuring medication delivery efficiency while minimizing discomfort through optimized fit rather than excessive tightening.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a facemask is used for MDI delivery to transition from nebulized drugs, then the child can receive medication through a different method, but the new sensation and experience difficulty can cause the child to remove the mask
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides familiar visual or audible feedback signals that create a consistent user experience across different medication delivery methods (nebulizer and MDI). This familiar feedback reduces the psychological impact of the new sensation, helping the child adapt to the MDI delivery method while maintaining mask compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The facemask design with integrated sensors and feedback mechanisms is universal and works with both nebulizer and MDI delivery systems. This multi-functionality provides a consistent, familiar experience for the child regardless of the medication delivery method, reducing resistance to the transition from nebulized to MDI delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A facemask includes a facemask body, a plurality of electrical contacts and a control circuit. The facemask body has an end including an opening and a skin contact perimeter extending along a periphery of the opening, with the skin contact perimeter configured to sealingly engage with a user's face. Each electrical contact is disposed at a respective region of the skin contact perimeter, and each electrical contact is configured to sense when the respective region of the skin contact perimeter is sealingly engaged with a user's face. The control circuit is disposed on the facemask body, and the control circuit is configured to receive a signal from each electrical contact when the respective region of the skin contact perimeter is sealingly engaged with a user's face and to initiate output of an audible stimulus and/or a visual stimulus in response to receiving a concurrent signal from all of the plurality of electrical contacts.