Pliable Gelatinous Elastomer Sealing Pad for Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices that attach to the human body often cause discomfort due to improper sealing, leading to skin irritation and inadequate sealing without excessive pressure.
Innovation Solution
A mask with fixation anchoring devices, skin covers, conduits, and sealing pads made of pliable gelatinous elastomers that conform to the body's surface, distributing pressure evenly to form airtight or watertight seals, and can be used in various applications including respiratory, urinary, and contraceptive devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing devices apply excessive pressure to form a seal, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but skin comfort deteriorates causing irritation and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing pad material transitions from rigid to pliable gelatinous elastomer, fundamentally changing the physical parameters of the sealing interface. This allows the seal to achieve adequate sealing pressure through material deformation rather than external force application, eliminating skin irritation while maintaining seal integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining pliable gelatinous elastomer with skin cover and fixation anchoring devices. The gelatinous elastomer layer provides compliant sealing contact with the skin, while the skin cover and anchoring devices provide structural support and secure attachment, distributing forces away from the sealing interface
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional sealing devices use rigid structures to maintain position, then device stability is improved, but adaptability to body contours deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing pad is constructed from pliable gelatinous elastomer that forms a flexible shell capable of conforming to irregular body surfaces. This flexible material maintains device stability through adaptive contact rather than rigid structural support, allowing the seal to accommodate various body contours while remaining securely positioned
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing interface transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic pliable material that can deform and adapt to body movements and surface variations. The gelatinous elastomer maintains sealing contact through its ability to dynamically adjust its shape while the fixation anchoring devices provide overall device stability
3Device complexity
If conventional devices use simple attachment mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the pliable gelatinous elastomer sealing pad, the skin cover, and the fixation anchoring devices. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system reliability, with the sealing pad focused solely on creating the seal and the anchoring devices focused on secure attachment
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 solution provides comfortable and effective sealing without excessive pressure, reducing skin irritation and improving the usability of medical devices by distributing pressure evenly and conforming to the body's contours.
Implementation Method 1
a compliant and resiliently deformable gelatinous elastomer suitable to conform under pressure to form a substantially airtight or watertight seal
Implementation Method 2
pliable and resilient gelatinous elastomer seals for isolation of a user's skin from external or internal environments
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus that includes a mask is provided, the mask including one or more fixation anchoring devices, each configured to anchor to an at least one body part within a user, wherein the at least one body part includes at least a portion of one or more of an oral, nasal, pharyngeal, and a respiratory airway; one or more skin covers, each capable of covering at least a portion of the user's face, wherein one or more of the fixation anchoring devices are connected to one or more skin covers; one or more conduits, each connected to at least a portion of one of the skin covers, wherein one or more of a gas, solid, liquid, and gel are transmitted through each of the conduits; and one or more sealing pads, each connected to at least one of one of the skin coverings and one of the fixation anchoring devices.