Flexible Nasal Assembly for Pediatric CPAP
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nasal assemblies for treating Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) are not adequately designed for children, lacking comfort, fit, and unobtrusiveness, which affects therapy efficacy and patient compliance.
Innovation Solution
A nasal assembly featuring a flexible silicone patient interface with conical nozzles and adjustable headgear, specifically designed for children, providing a comfortable and stable fit by contacting only the nose and below, with a circular nozzle shape to match the nasal passages and flexible design for proper positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid shell and headgear assembly are used to provide structural support, then stability is improved, but comfort and unobtrusiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional rigid shell with a flexible patient interface that can conform to the contours of a child's face and nose. This flexible interface maintains stability through its ability to adapt and seal around the nasal passages while eliminating the discomfort and unobtrusiveness issues caused by rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the patient interface from rigid to flexible, allowing it to deform and adapt to the patient's anatomy. This parameter change enables the interface to provide both stability (through consistent sealing) and comfort (through soft contact with facial features).
2Strength
If conventional nasal assemblies are designed for adults, then structural integrity is maintained, but adaptability to children's anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent scales down the dimensions of the patient interface to match children's smaller nasal passages and facial features. The flexible material allows the interface to adapt to varying anatomical parameters across different children, while the design maintains sufficient structural integrity to deliver CPAP pressure effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient interface is segmented into distinct components including the nasal pillows, headgear, and connecting elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for children's anatomy independently, with the nasal pillows sized for small nostrils and the headgear adjusted for smaller head circumferences.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the patient interface contacts more of the face, then stability is improved, but unobtrusiveness and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contact points of the patient interface to only where necessary - specifically at the nasal passages and minimal facial contact points. By removing unnecessary contact areas, the design achieves stability through precise sealing at the nose while maximizing unobtrusiveness by leaving the rest of the face untouched.
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 nasal assembly enhances comfort, stability, and unobtrusiveness, improving therapy efficacy and compliance in children by ensuring a secure and comfortable fit, reducing discomfort and pressure points, while maintaining effective air delivery for treating SDB.
Implementation Method 1
The hollow body is bendable to adjust a position of the nozzles in use
Data Source
AI summary
A nasal assembly includes a patient interface including a hollow body that defines an air chamber and a pair of nozzles supported by the hollow body. Each nozzle includes a conical tip structured to sealingly communicate with a respective nasal passage of a patient's nose in use. Headgear is provided to the patient interface so as to maintain the patient interface in a desired position on the patient's face in use. The hollow body is bendable to adjust a position of the nozzles in use.