Jaw Thrust Appliance Headgear Mandible Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing jaw thrust devices for airway management are either uncomfortable, intrusive, expensive, or restrictive, limiting their effectiveness in treating sleep disorders and airway obstructions during medical procedures and emergencies, as they often require constant monitoring and are not conducive to flexible use by patients or in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
An extra-oral headgear with adjustable thrust pads and supports that encircle the head, allowing for comfortable and convenient displacement of the mandible forward, enabling the jaw thrust maneuver without restricting the user's posture or requiring constant medical supervision, suitable for personal use and medical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional jaw thrust devices are used to maintain airway, then airway management function is achieved, but comfort and ease of use deteriorate due to intrusiveness and restriction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thrust pads as intermediary elements that distribute force across the mandible angle, ear supports as mediators that transfer force from the headgear to the mandible, and a head band as a mediator that distributes load across the head. These intermediary structures enable airway management while improving comfort by avoiding direct, concentrated pressure on single points.
Solution Approach 2:
The headgear incorporates a flexible head band that encircles the head and can be adjusted to fit different head sizes and shapes. This flexible structure allows the device to adapt to individual users while maintaining the necessary mechanical force for jaw thrust, improving both comfort and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If traditional jaw thrust devices are used to maintain airway, then airway management function is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a head band for securing the device, ear supports for force transmission, thrust pads for applying force to the mandible, and adjustment mechanisms for customization. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies manufacturing and assembly, reducing overall complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The headgear design serves multiple functions: it secures the device to the head, transmits force to the mandible, allows for adjustment to fit different users, and maintains airway patency. By combining these functions into a single integrated structure rather than separate components, the patent reduces device complexity and potential cost.
3Reliability
If constant monitoring is required for jaw thrust devices, then airway management reliability is improved, but ease of operation and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be self-adjusting through its mechanical structure. The ear supports and thrust pads are positioned to automatically apply the necessary force to maintain jaw thrust when the headgear is worn, without requiring active monitoring or adjustment by medical personnel. This allows the device to function autonomously, improving flexibility for personal use and emergency situations where constant monitoring is not feasible.
Data Source
AI summary
An extra-oral medical device is disclosed for treating respiratory conditions and maintaining an open airway. The device comprises a pair of jaw thrusters that affix to a headgear appliance encircling or otherwise attaching around a user's head. The thrusters include a pair of pads that attach to the headgear via two adjustable ear surrounds and place a forward load against the angle of a user's mandible. The forward load forces the mandible and the tongue forward, displacing the tongue from the posterior oropharynx and performing a jaw thrust maneuver for airway management. The device is adapted for medical and personal use, wherein the headgear can be worn while sleeping to treat sleep apnea, excessive snoring and other respiratory disorders, or alternatively may be used by medical professionals to maintain an open airway during a procedure or medical emergency.