Respiratory Mask Headgear Loop Structure for Stable Seal Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Respiratory masks used for CPAP therapy and NIV often face issues with maintaining a stable seal due to reduced contact area with the user's face, leading to potential leaks and discomfort, which can disrupt the therapy.
Innovation Solution
A headgear system with an integrally formed closed loop, comprising a yoke, side arms, and a top strap, along with a rear strap, is designed to provide support and maintain a stable position of the patient interface, using a semi-rigid material to transfer forces effectively and prevent seal dislodgment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the patient interface is held by conventional headgear, then the mask can be positioned on the face, but the seal becomes unstable and prone to dislodgment
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear is divided into separate functional components: a yoke that connects to the patient interface, side arms that extend across the cheeks, and a top strap that goes over the head. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to provide stable support.
Solution Approach 2:
The yoke, side arms, and top strap are integrally formed as a single closed loop structure. This merging creates a continuous load-bearing path that distributes forces evenly and prevents any single point from bearing excessive stress, thereby stabilizing the seal.
2Reliability
If a semi-rigid material is used for the headgear, then forces are transferred effectively to maintain seal position, but the comfort and flexibility may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear employs semi-rigid material strategically in the yoke and side arms where structural support and force transfer are critical, while allowing softer materials or more flexible construction in the top strap and areas contacting the user's head, thus balancing stability with comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The headgear utilizes composite construction combining semi-rigid materials for structural components with softer materials for user-contact areas, achieving both effective force transfer and user comfort through material diversity.
3Reliability
If the headgear provides strong support to maintain seal stability, then leaks are reduced, but the discomfort and pressure on the user's face increases
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear distributes support forces across multiple dimensions and contact points on the user's head (top of head, sides, and back), rather than concentrating pressure on the face. The closed loop structure creates a three-dimensional support system that stabilizes the mask without increasing facial pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The headgear acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers the stabilizing force from the user's head to the patient interface indirectly through the yoke and side arms, rather than applying direct pressure on the face. This mediates the force transmission to reduce discomfort while maintaining seal integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A respiratory mask system is provided. The respiratory mask system has a patient interface that is secured to a user's head by a headgear. The patient interface includes a seal, a frame and a gas delivery conduit. The frame is configured to secure the seal and gas delivery conduit together. The frame includes a recessed channel and/or headgear retaining features configured to connect the headgear to the patient interface. The frame can include an inlet collar that connects to a gas delivery conduit. The inlet collar can include bias flow holes. The headgear includes a top strap, a pair of side arms, a yoke and a rear strap. The yoke is configured to connect to the recessed channel of the frame. The top strap, side arms and yoke form an integrally formed closed loop. The top strap can include two portions adjustably connected to each other.