Full-Face Mask Seal Support for Stable Respiratory Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapy devices and interfaces, such as masks, suffer from discomfort, poor fit, and reduced compliance due to their obtrusive nature, aesthetic issues, and difficulty in use, particularly when worn for extended periods, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes for respiratory disorders.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface with a plenum chamber designed to maintain therapeutic pressure throughout the respiratory cycle, featuring dual seal-forming structures for the mouth and nose, support portions to prevent compression, and a vent structure to manage exhaled gases, enhancing comfort and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a patient interface with seal-forming structures is used to maintain therapeutic pressure, then therapeutic efficacy is improved, but comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to obtrusive nature and poor fit
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is divided into multiple independent components: a headgear system for positioning, a plenum chamber for pressure maintenance, separate seal-forming structures for nose and mouth, and a vent structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for both therapeutic effectiveness and comfort, resolving the contradiction between reliable therapy delivery and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the patient interface have specialized properties tailored to their specific functions: the seal-forming structures have flexible materials for comfort and fit, the plenum chamber has rigid structure for pressure maintenance, and the vent structure has controlled permeability. This local differentiation allows the interface to maintain therapeutic pressure reliably while remaining comfortable for extended wear.
2Stability of the object's composition
If seal-forming structures are used to maintain therapeutic pressure, then pressure stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into integrated components: the seal-forming structures simultaneously seal the interface and distribute pressure, the plenum chamber both maintains pressure and houses the vent structure, and the headgear both positions the interface and provides structural support. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining pressure stability, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the patient interface is worn for extended periods, then treatment duration is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to compression and disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear and positioning structures are designed to pre-position the patient interface correctly before therapy begins, preventing compression and displacement during extended wear. The vent structure proactively manages exhaled gases to prevent buildup that could cause discomfort. These preliminary protective measures enable comfortable wear throughout the entire treatment duration without compression-related disruptions.
4Reliability
If dual seal-forming structures are used for mouth and nose, then seal effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plenum chamber serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains therapeutic pressure, houses both seal-forming structures, and contains the vent structure. This multi-functionality allows a single manufacturing process to produce a component that performs multiple critical functions, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining effective sealing at both the mouth and nose.
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
Improves patient compliance and therapeutic efficacy by providing a more comfortable and effective seal, reducing leaks, and minimizing disruption, thus enhancing the effectiveness of respiratory therapies.
Implementation Method 1
a plenum chamber pressurisable to a therapeutic pressure of at least 6 cmH2O above ambient air pressure, said plenum chamber including a plenum chamber inlet port sized and structured to receive a flow of air at the therapeutic pressure for breathing by a patient
Implementation Method 2
a first seal-forming structure constructed and arranged to form a seal with a region of the patient's face surrounding an entrance to the patient's mouth such that the flow of air at said therapeutic pressure is delivered to the mouth, the first seal-forming structure constructed and arranged to maintain said therapeutic pressure in the plenum chamber
Implementation Method 3
a vent structure to allow a continuous flow of gases exhaled by the patient from an interior of the plenum chamber to vent to ambient, said vent structure being sized and shaped to maintain the therapeutic pressure in the plenum chamber in use
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A patient interface including a plenum chamber, a first seal-forming structure for forming a seal around the patient's mouth, and a second seal-forming structure for forming a seal around the patient's nares. The patient interface further includes at least one stopper rib disposed in the cavity of the plenum chamber spaced apart from the first seal-forming structure in a rest position. The first seal-forming structure configured to contact the at least one stopper rib in an operational position. The at least one stopper rib configured to oppose compression of the first seal-forming structure in an anterior direction. The second seal-forming structure is not configured to contact the at least one stopper rib.