Hydraulic Therapy Device for OSA Airway Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are expensive, uncomfortable, and have low long-term compliance, with existing solutions like CPAP machines and Mandibular Advancement Devices being impractical for many patients, and there is a need for a lower cost, safe, effective, and comfortable treatment modality.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic therapy device with a walled enclosure and distensible membrane that applies positive, negative, or traction pressure to the skin and underlying tissues to stabilize the hyoid bone and tongue, thereby opening the upper airway, using mechanisms like magnetic attraction, hydraulic pressure, or mechanical force to provide therapeutic tissue traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If CPAP machines are used to treat OSA, then airway obstruction is effectively treated, but cost and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic pressure through a flexible bladder that can be inflated and deflated to provide positive airway pressure. This hydraulic system replaces traditional CPAP machines, achieving the same therapeutic effect of opening the airway while eliminating the need for complex mechanical pumping systems, thereby reducing cost and improving patient comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible bladder made of soft material that can conform to the patient's body contours. This flexible membrane approach provides comfortable contact with the skin, eliminating the need for tight-fitting masks required by CPAP machines, thus improving patient compliance while maintaining treatment effectiveness
2Reliability
If Mandibular Advancement Devices are used, then airway obstruction is treated, but comfort and practicality decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using rigid mechanical devices like Mandibular Advancement Devices, the patent employs a hydraulic system with a flexible bladder that can be easily applied and removed. The hydraulic pressure provides the necessary force to maintain airway patency without the discomfort of rigid structures pressing against the jaw and teeth
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows for adjustable pressure parameters through hydraulic control, enabling the device to adapt to different patients and treatment requirements. This flexibility in parameter adjustment provides comfortable treatment for diverse patients, unlike the fixed mechanical design of Mandibular Advancement Devices
3Reliability
If traditional OSA treatments are used, then airway obstruction is managed, but long-term compliance is low
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic bladder system provides a comfortable and simple treatment that patients are more likely to use consistently over the long term. The ability to adjust pressure parameters and the lack of complex mechanical components make this system more practical for daily use, thereby improving long-term compliance compared to traditional CPAP machines and Mandibular Advancement Devices
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 device effectively alleviates upper airway obstruction by providing airway expansion equivalent to 5-20 cm water positive airway pressure, reducing the severity of OSA symptoms without the discomfort and cost associated with traditional treatments, and can be used in conjunction with other therapies for enhanced effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
Hydraulic pressure has the benefits of performing work efficiently, lending itself to miniaturization, quiet operation, and the options of manual as well as electronic operation. Therapeutic application of hydraulic pressure to the body in the form of negative (suction), positive (tension) or traction (sliding) pressure can be used to treat a wide range of conditions
Implementation Method 2
a walled enclosure with at least one distensible membrane spanning its perimeter... so that when hydraulic fluid is circulated within the device the resulting positive, negative or traction pressure upon the skin and underlying tissues provides a beneficial effect
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic device that includes a membrane-covered walled enclosure that enables control of pressure against a body part to be controlled through desired fluid addition or removal from the enclosure. Through pressure control of the membrane a desired traction force is applied to prevent injuries or therapeutically treat a wide variety of medical conditions, including respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and skin disorders.