Respiratory Mask Seal Decoupling for Hose-Pull Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing face masks experience instability and seal leaks due to hose pull forces, particularly around the nasal area, which can be exacerbated by variations in facial geometries and movements, leading to discomfort and reduced effectiveness in providing positive pressure respiratory therapy.
Innovation Solution
The mask assembly is designed with a decoupling feature between the nasal and oral portions, allowing for relative movement and stability, and includes a movement limiting arrangement to maintain seal integrity under various forces, utilizing a mask shell and seal configuration that seals below the nose and around the nares without contacting the bridge, and incorporates features like bellows and tethers to manage movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the mask seal contacts the bridge of the nose to provide stability, then the mask becomes stable, but it causes nose tip or septum pressure and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The mask seal is divided into distinct functional zones: a nasal portion that seals around the nares and an oral portion that seals around the mouth. This segmentation allows each portion to independently manage forces without transferring excessive pressure to the nasal bridge, resolving the contradiction between stability and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible bridge portion acts as an intermediary element between the nasal and oral portions of the mask seal. This flexible section allows relative movement and force distribution, preventing direct transmission of hose pull forces to the nasal bridge while maintaining overall mask stability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the mask seal is positioned lower below the nose to reduce foot print, then comfort is improved, but stability deteriorates due to reduced contact area
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the seal into nasal and oral portions with independent movement capabilities, the mask can position the seal lower on the face (improving comfort) while maintaining stability through the coordinated action of both portions. The oral portion provides additional stabilization points below the nose without increasing nasal bridge pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible bridge portion enables dynamic adjustment where the nasal and oral portions can move relative to each other. This dynamic capability allows the seal to adapt to facial movements and maintain contact area for stability while positioning lower on the face for comfort.
3Reliability
If the nasal and oral portions are rigidly connected to maintain seal integrity, then seal integrity is improved, but adaptability to facial movements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible bridge portion creates a dynamic connection between the nasal and oral portions, allowing them to move relative to each other in response to facial movements. This dynamic design maintains seal integrity through continuous contact while adapting to changing facial geometry, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible bridge portion changes the mechanical parameters of the connection between nasal and oral portions, transitioning from a rigid fixed connection to a flexible variable connection. This allows the seal to maintain integrity while accommodating facial movements through elastic deformation of the bridge portion.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the mask seal is decoupled to allow relative movement between nasal and oral portions, then stability under hose pull is improved, but seal integrity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible bridge portion serves as an intermediary that transmits forces between the nasal and oral portions while allowing relative movement. This intermediary element maintains seal integrity by ensuring continuous contact between the seal and facial surfaces while enabling the decoupling needed for stability under hose pull forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible bridge portion modifies the mechanical coupling parameters between nasal and oral portions, allowing controlled relative movement while maintaining force transmission. This parameter change enables the seal to remain intact under normal conditions while providing the stability needed to resist hose pull forces.
Data Source
Figure 1~3B
Figure 4
Figure 5~7B
AI summary
An interface for use in providing positive pressure respiratory therapy, the interface comprising a mask assembly (1900) comprising: a mask seal (1904) and a mask shell (1902), the mask seal comprising a nasal portion and an oral portion, and one or more features that decouple movement of the nasal portion relative to the oral portion, and a tether (1912) having a first end portion coupled to the nasal portion and a second end portion coupled to the mask shell, wherein the tether is configured to limit movement of the nasal portion relative to the oral portion.