Nasal Cannula Sensor Accessory for Secure Patient Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing respiratory support systems lack efficient and secure methods for attaching patient sensors to nasal cannula interfaces, which hinders accurate monitoring of patient parameters and adjustments to therapy settings.

Innovation Solution

A nasal cannula interface accessory with a sensor cavity and securement features, such as arms or clips, allows for easy attachment and secure connection to nasal cannula interfaces, providing a pathway for wires and ensuring sensors are positioned correctly for accurate patient parameter measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sensor is attached to a nasal cannula interface, then patient parameter monitoring is enabled, but the attachment method is insufficient and insecure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor attachment reliabilityVSAvoidsensor attachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory is divided into separate functional components: a sensor cavity for housing the sensor, securement features (such as clips or straps) for attachment to the nasal cannula interface, and wire pathways for electrical connections. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining secure and reliable sensor attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor is nested within the sensor cavity, which itself is attached to the nasal cannula interface through the securement features. The wire cavity provides a nested pathway that routes electrical connections from the sensor through the accessory structure. This nested arrangement ensures secure positioning and protected wiring while maintaining ease of attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If securement features are added to attach sensors, then attachment security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor attachment securityVSAvoidaccessory structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The securement features (such as clips or straps) are integrated directly into the accessory structure that houses the sensor cavity and wire pathways. By merging the attachment mechanism with the sensor housing and wiring structure, the design achieves secure sensor attachment without requiring separate, complex assembly components. The combined structure maintains simplicity while ensuring reliable attachment to the nasal cannula interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If wire pathways are provided for sensors, then electrical connection is enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor integration easeVSAvoidwire cavity structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wire cavities and pathways are pre-formed as integral parts of the accessory structure during the manufacturing process. This preliminary creation of wiring pathways eliminates the need for separate wiring steps or complex assembly operations, as the electrical connection routes are already established when the accessory is assembled to the nasal cannula interface. This approach simplifies manufacturing while ensuring proper sensor electrical connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250325766A1A patient interface and a respiratory apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a nasal cannula interface accessory for attachment to a nasal cannula interface. The accessory comprising a sensor cavity, the sensor cavity configured to retain a sensor configured to measure at least one patient parameter and at least one securement feature, the at least one securement feature configured to connect the accessory to a nasal cannula interface (optionally to a strap of a nasal cannula interface).