Facial Fixation Structure for Multi-Tube Patient Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing the limited facial space on patients, especially infants or those with small facial geometries, for multiple tubes used in respiratory therapy, feeding, and medication delivery without disrupting the delivery of respiratory gases or nutrients is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A fixation structure is designed to secure patient interfaces and tubes on the face, featuring adhesive regions, fasteners, and flexible or pivotable extensions to encapsulate or secure tubes, allowing for easy adjustment and removal without disrupting therapy or delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple tubes are placed on the patient's face for respiratory therapy, feeding, and medication delivery, then the patient receives comprehensive treatment, but the limited facial space becomes difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is divided into separate modular components including a nasal cannula portion, a bridge portion, and a chin rest portion. Each component can be independently positioned and adjusted to distribute the tubes across different facial zones, effectively segmenting the limited facial space into manageable areas for each treatment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation structure extends into the three-dimensional space in front of and behind the patient's face, utilizing depth rather than only horizontal facial surface area. The bridge portion extends forward from the nose, and the chin rest extends backward, creating a spatial arrangement that manages multiple tubes in the depth dimension rather than competing for limited horizontal facial space.
2Ease of operation
If tubing is adjusted or removed, then maintenance or repositioning is needed, but disruption of respiratory therapy delivery occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it secures the nasal cannula for respiratory gas delivery, provides attachment points for feeding tubes, and offers support for medication delivery tubing. This multi-functional design allows all tubes to be managed through a single integrated structure, so adjusting one tube does not require disturbing the others or disrupting respiratory therapy.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge portion acts as an intermediary structure between the nasal cannula and the external tubing systems. It provides a stable attachment point that decouples the respiratory therapy delivery from the feeding and medication tubes, allowing independent adjustment of non-respiratory tubes without affecting the respiratory gas flow through the nasal cannula.
3Reliability
If patient interface is secured tightly, then stable attachment is achieved, but comfort and ease of removal are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation structure incorporates flexible elements and movable joints that allow dynamic adjustment of attachment force. The chin rest portion can be positioned at different heights and angles, and the bridge portion can flex to accommodate facial movements. This dynamic design provides stable attachment during therapy while allowing easy removal when needed, as the structure can be adjusted to reduce attachment force without compromising stability during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface includes a first body that rests on a first portion of a patient's face, a second body that rests on a second portion of the patient's face, and a bridge linking the first and second bodies. The patient interface includes an attachment structure that couples with a complementary fixation structure positioned on the patient's face to secure the patient interface to the patient's face. The complementary fixation structure can be configured to assist in retaining a feeding tube in position relative to the patient's face or to the patient interface.