Breathing Mask Helical Filter for Respiratory Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air masks suffer from limited filtering efficiency due to low surface area, increased respiratory stress, and inefficiencies in UV disinfection and gas absorption, particularly in portable breathing devices.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an elongated chamber with a filter element wrapped around its sidewall, a one-way valve, and an expandable member, which allows for efficient air treatment during inhalation and exhalation, and monitoring of air quality and user health indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical filters with limited surface area are used in air masks, then the device remains portable and wearable, but filtering efficiency is reduced and pressure drop increases causing respiratory stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional flat filters to three-dimensional helical filters that wrap around a central axis. This dimensional change increases the filter surface area from a flat plane to a volumetric spiral structure, allowing more filtering material to be packed into a compact space while maintaining portability and reducing respiratory stress through increased filtering capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The helical filter is nested within a housing structure that contains a blower and UV lamp. The filter spiral wraps around a central core, creating a nested configuration where multiple functional elements (filter, blower, UV lamp) are integrated within each other to maximize space utilization in the portable device
2Reliability
If UV radiation is employed for disinfection in portable devices, then disinfection efficacy is improved, but energy consumption increases reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The UV lamp operates periodically rather than continuously, being activated at specific intervals or under specific conditions (such as when the device detects usage or at scheduled maintenance intervals). This periodic operation maintains disinfection efficacy by ensuring UV treatment occurs when needed while dramatically reducing overall energy consumption and extending battery life
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes UV lamp parameters including power output, wavelength selection, and exposure duration to achieve maximum disinfection efficacy at minimum energy consumption. By carefully selecting and adjusting these parameters, the device maintains effective disinfection while minimizing the energy burden on the portable power supply
3Reliability
If high level filtering is implemented, then protection level is improved, but filter area must be increased which challenges portability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a three-dimensional helical filter configuration that wraps around a central axis multiple times. This spiral arrangement increases the effective filter area from a two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional volumetric structure, allowing high levels of filtering protection to be achieved within a compact portable form factor without increasing the device's external dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The helical filter is divided into multiple sequential stages or zones along the spiral path, with each section contributing to the overall filtration process. This segmentation allows the filter to achieve high protection levels through multiple passes of air through filtering material, effectively increasing the total filter area without proportionally increasing the device volume
4Reliability
If gas absorption is implemented in portable devices, then toxic gas removal is improved, but contact time must be sufficient which conflicts with limited device space
Solution Approach 1:
The helical filter structure creates a three-dimensional flow path that extends the residence time of air within the filtering medium. By spiraling the air flow through multiple rotations around the central axis, the device increases the contact time between toxic gases and absorbing materials without proportionally increasing the external device volume, as the extended path is achieved through volumetric utilization rather than external expansion
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 enhances filtering efficiency, reduces respiratory stress, and achieves high energy efficiency by optimizing airflow and contact time for UV disinfection and gas absorption, while also monitoring air quality and user health.
Implementation Method 1
a filter element formed of flexible material that is wrapped around a sidewall of the chamber either internally or externally for filtering air flowing through the chamber
Implementation Method 2
a UV radiation source arranged to disinfect air flowing through the chamber
Implementation Method 3
a gas absorption material wrapped around a sidewall of the chamber either internally or externally
Data Source
Figure 1A~2B
Figure 3A~3D
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A device for enhancing efficiency of an air mask (204) wearable by a user to cover the mouth and nose of the user includes an elongated chamber (202) fluidly couplable at a proximal end thereof to an air opening (205, 205') of the mask (204). A filter element (206) formed of flexible material is wrapped around a sidewall of the chamber either internally or externally and has a surface area that is at least twice as large as that of the mask for filtering air flowing through the chamber in either direction, and a one-way valve (227, 228) is mounted in association with the opening for allowing filtered air inhaled by the user to pass from the chamber to the mask or for allowing an air exhaled by the user to pass from the mask to the chamber.