Granular Jamming Respiratory Mask Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Respiratory masks often fail to achieve a satisfactory seal due to varying facial geometries, leading to discomfort and injuries from excessive skin pressure, particularly in areas with thin skin like the nasal bridge, as existing designs require substantial forces to compensate for geometry mismatches and may not adapt to different facial shapes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A customizable respiratory mask with a frame and seal assembly that incorporates a granular jamming mechanism, allowing the mask to adjust its contour to fit various facial shapes and maintain the adjusted shape with reduced skin pressure, using a variable stiffness device that transitions between flexible and rigid states to enhance sealing performance and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If substantial forces are applied to the mask to achieve a seal, then the seal quality improves, but the skin pressure increases causing discomfort and injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The mask incorporates a variable stiffness mechanism that allows it to dynamically adjust its rigidity. When conforming to the facial geometry, the mask is flexible to adapt to contours. Once positioned, it transitions to a rigid state to maintain the seal without requiring excessive strap forces, thereby reducing skin pressure while preserving seal quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask utilizes granular material that can change its physical state between fluid-like and solid-like parameters. In the fluid state, the material allows the mask to conform to facial contours. When a threshold pressure is reached or a transition mechanism is activated, the granular material jams into a solid-like state, maintaining the adapted shape and reducing the need for high compressive forces from straps.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mask geometry is fixed, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different facial shapes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mask employs granular material whose physical parameters can be changed from a flowable state to a jammed state. This parameter change allows the mask to adapt to various facial geometries while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The granular material's ability to transition states provides adaptability without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms or multiple mask sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask structure allows the granular material to self-adjust and self-conform to the facial geometry without requiring external adjustment mechanisms. The material automatically distributes itself to match the contours, and once positioned, the jamming mechanism maintains the adapted shape autonomously, reducing the need for complex control systems or manual adjustments.
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 mask reduces skin pressure and leak rates, minimizing discomfort and injuries by adapting to individual facial geometries, providing a more effective seal with reduced force, thus improving patient comfort and safety.
Implementation Method 1
A customizable respiratory mask includes a seal and/or frame portion made at least partially from a granular material that is compressible to a density sufficient to transition the granular material from a fluid-like state to a jammed, solid-like state
Data Source
AI summary
A customizable mask including a conforming seal is configured to utilize the physical process of granular jamming to enable it to adapt to a wide range of facial geometries. The mask may include a frame having a perimeter and a conduit connection, a conforming seal positioned along the perimeter of the frame; the conforming seal may include a sealing surface and a connecting surface, the connecting surface configured to mate with the perimeter of the frame, and the sealing surface configured to conform to a users' face. The conforming seal may further include an outer casing, granular material contained within the outer casing, and a vacuum connection. The mask may also include a similarly configured conforming frame. Further disclosed are methods of forming such masks