Full Face Mask Airflow Valve for Natural Breathing Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapies, particularly those involving patient interfaces, suffer from discomfort, poor fit, and reduced compliance due to inadequate seal-forming structures and stabilization, leading to inefficiencies and reduced effectiveness in treating respiratory disorders.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface with a plenum chamber and seal-forming structure that maintains therapeutic pressure throughout the respiratory cycle, incorporating a valve system to control airflow between nasal and oral chambers, and a positioning and stabilizing structure for improved fit and comfort, enhancing therapy compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal-forming structure is used to maintain therapeutic pressure, then therapy effectiveness is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is divided into separate nasal and oral chambers with independent seal-forming structures. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized for its specific function - the nasal chamber for nasal breathing therapy and the oral chamber for oral breathing therapy - thereby maintaining therapeutic effectiveness while improving comfort by preventing pressure buildup in non-breathing regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system dynamically switches between nasal and oral breathing modes based on patient needs. The adjustable valve allows transition between nasal-only, oral-only, or dual-mode breathing, enabling the therapy to adapt to changing patient conditions and comfort requirements while maintaining effective pressure delivery to the appropriate airway.
2Reliability
If a rigid mask structure is used to maintain shape and seal, then seal reliability is improved, but patient comfort and fit deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mask incorporates flexible cushioning structures and compliant seal-forming portions that can conform to the patient's facial contours. These flexible elements maintain reliable sealing contact with the face while adapting to individual anatomical variations, thereby ensuring seal reliability without compromising comfort or requiring rigid structures.
3Measurement precision
If separate nasal and oral chambers are used with valve control, then breathing control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal and oral chambers are merged into a single integrated patient interface structure with a common valve assembly. This merging allows coordinated control of both breathing modes through a unified system, achieving precise breathing control while avoiding the complexity of completely separate independent systems. The valve mechanism efficiently manages airflow distribution between chambers based on therapeutic requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface comprising a cushion having a nasal plenum chamber, an oral plenum chamber, and a passage formed between the nasal and oral plenum chambers. The passage is configured to allow airflow to pass between the nasal and oral plenum chambers. The cushion also includes a valve including valve body and an adjustment structure that is positioned between the nasal chamber and the oral chamber and is movable relative to the valve body. The adjustment structure is movable between an open position that is configured to allow airflow between the nasal plenum chamber and the oral plenum chamber, and a closed position configured to limit airflow between the nasal plenum chamber and the oral plenum chamber. The adjustment structure is configured to allow airflow through a nasal vent in the closed position and is configured to limit airflow through the nasal vent in the open position.