Full Face Respiratory Mask Integrated Nasal Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional oral-nasal masks are uncomfortable and often cause skin breakdown due to pressure points, leading to poor seal effectiveness and user compliance issues, especially when worn for extended periods.

Innovation Solution

A full-face mask design featuring a seal member with an integrated oral cushion and nasal interface portion that contacts the nose below the bridge, reducing the contact area and contour variations, thus enhancing comfort and seal efficacy without the need for a forehead support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional oral-nasal masks cover the entire nose and mouth area to achieve a good seal, then seal effectiveness is improved, but user comfort deteriorates and skin breakdown occurs due to pressure points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal effectivenessVSAvoidskin breakdown and discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mask is divided into separate functional zones: a mouthpiece covering only the mouth area and a nasal interface portion covering only the nose area. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall contact pressure while maintaining effective sealing at both the mouth and nose.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different materials and structural properties are applied to different parts of the mask. The mouthpiece uses a cushioning material that conforms to the mouth contours, while the nasal interface portion uses a different configuration that distributes pressure away from the nasal bridge. This local optimization reduces skin breakdown while maintaining seal effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If oral-nasal masks are made large and bulky to cover the entire face area, then seal coverage is improved, but device complexity and intrusiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal coverageVSAvoidmask size and bulk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mask system is segmented into a compact mouthpiece and a minimal nasal interface portion, eliminating the need for a large bulkier traditional mask. This segmentation allows the device to maintain effective seal coverage while significantly reducing overall size and intrusiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nasal interface portion is extracted as a separate minimal component rather than being integrated into a large mask body. This extraction allows the nasal sealing function to be achieved with minimal material and structure, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining seal coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional masks use forehead support to stabilize the mask system, then mask stability is improved, but skin breakdown and pressure points increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemask stabilityVSAvoidpressure points and skin breakdown

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The forehead support component is completely removed from the mask design. Instead, mask stability is achieved through the combined sealing action at the mouth and nose, along with headgear straps that distribute pressure away from the forehead. This extraction eliminates the source of forehead pressure points and skin breakdown.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing interface at the mouth and nose acts as an intermediary mechanism to stabilize the mask without requiring forehead support. The seal itself, combined with the headgear system, provides the necessary stability while distributing pressure away from sensitive areas like the forehead and nasal bridge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If oral-nasal masks cover the area from mouth to nose bridge, then seal area is improved, but user comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to claustrophobia and interference with eyeglasses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal areaVSAvoiduser comfort and compatibility with eyeglasses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mask is segmented to cover only the essential sealing areas (mouth and nose) rather than the entire face. This segmentation reduces the overall contact area, eliminating claustrophobic feelings and allowing eyeglasses to be worn comfortably while maintaining effective seal area at the critical sealing zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP1960960B1Full face respiratory mask with integrated nasal interface

Publication Date: 2020.09.30 RIC INVESTMENTS LLC

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AI summary

A patient interface (110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 1000, 1050, HOO5 1150, 1300, 1350, 1370, 1400, 1500) that reliably and comfortably seals a user's face by providing an oral-nasal mask that includes an integrated nasal interface. The patient interface includes a seal member (114, 214, 314, 414, 514, 614, 714, 1004, 1054, 1104, 1154, 1200, 1250, 1304, 1354, 1374, 1404, 1504) having an oral cushion portion (122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 622, 722, 1010, 1060, 1106, 1156, 1202, 1252, 1306, 1356, 1406, 1506) configured to surround the user's mouth and a nasal interface portion (124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 624, 724, 1012, 1062, 1108, 1158, 1204, 1254, 1308, 1358, 1408, 1508) that provides an interface with the user's nose. The seal member, including the oral cushion portion and the nasal interface portion, is a unitary member. Finally, the nasal interface portion remains below the bridge of the nose.