Wearable Inhalation Mask With Sensor-Triggered Fluid Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current inhalation delivery devices lack the ability to efficiently and comfortably deliver aerosols, vapors, or oxygen gases directly to the wearer's air passages while providing air pollution protection and allowing for normal breathing and speech.
Innovation Solution
A wearable inhalation delivery device integrated into a mask with a nasal pillow and mouthpiece, featuring air pressure sensors, microprocessors, and ultrasonic piezoelectric transducers, which activate upon inhalation to control the delivery of fluids such as aerosols, vapors, or oxygen gases, ensuring comfortable and precise inhalation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wearable inhalation delivery device is integrated into a mask, then the ability to deliver fluids (aerosol, vapor, mist, oxygen gas) to the wearer's air passages is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single wearable mask device: air filtration through particulate filters, inhalation detection via air pressure sensors, and controlled fluid delivery through vaporizing nozzles or ultrasonic transducers. This integration allows the mask to simultaneously protect against pollution while delivering therapeutic fluids, resolving the contradiction by merging previously separate functions into one unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform air filtration, inhalation detection, and various fluid delivery modes (vaporization, ultrasonic mist generation, oxygen delivery). The microprocessor controls different delivery mechanisms based on detected inhalation patterns, making the device universally applicable for multiple respiratory needs while maintaining a single wearable form factor.
2Measurement precision
If air pressure sensors and microprocessors are added to control fluid delivery, then the precision of inhalation delivery is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates air pressure sensors that detect inhalation events and provide feedback to a microprocessor. The microprocessor analyzes the inhalation signal and triggers fluid delivery only when inhalation is detected, creating a closed-loop feedback system. This ensures precise delivery timing synchronized with the wearer's natural inhalation cycles, improving measurement precision while using electronic control to manage the added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects inhalation events and triggers fluid delivery without requiring manual activation. The air pressure sensor continuously monitors for inhalation patterns, and the microprocessor autonomously controls the vaporizing nozzle or ultrasonic transducer based on detected inhalation, making the device self-regulating and reducing the need for user intervention despite the added electronic components.
3Ease of operation
If a nasal pillow and mouthpiece are integrated into the mask, then the comfort and normal breathing capability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mask is divided into distinct functional sections: a nasal pillow section for nasal inhalation delivery, a mouthpiece section for oral inhalation delivery, and filtration sections. Each component is optimized for its specific function, allowing the wearer to breathe naturally through preferred pathways while the device delivers fluid to the appropriate air passages. This segmentation improves comfort by accommodating natural breathing patterns while organizing complexity into manageable separate components.
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 enables efficient and customizable delivery of inhalation fluids, maintaining comfort and normal breathing and speech, with adjustable sensitivity and control via a mobile app, enhancing the functionality of air filtration masks.
Implementation Method 1
the inhalation delivery device includes a fluid tank and an ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer, and the microprocessor is configured to control the ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer to control an amount of fine mist released from the fluid tank
Implementation Method 2
the inhalation delivery device includes an air pressure sensor, a power source, and a microprocessor configured to deliver a fluid such as aerosol, vapor, mist, or oxygen gas to the wearer's air passages upon detection of inhalation by the air pressure sensor
Implementation Method 3
the inhalation delivery device includes a tank and a vaporizing nozzle, and the microprocessor is configured to control the vaporizing nozzle to control an amount of fluid released from the tank
Implementation Method 4
the inhalation delivery device includes a vape tank with a vape heating coil
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable inhalation delivery device comprising a wearable member that is securable to a wearer's head; and an inhalation delivery device carried by the wearable member and configured to deliver fluid to the wearer's air passages upon inhalation.