Nasal Dilator Force Redistribution via Material Separations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nasal dilators face challenges with limited skin surface area, adhesive attachment issues due to moisture and skin oils, and discomfort caused by spring biasing forces, which lead to delamination and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
A nasal dilator design featuring a laminate structure with material separations and discontinuities in the resilient layer to redistribute spring biasing forces from peel and tensile forces to shear forces, increasing the surface area and reducing delamination, while using a lesser amount of adhesive for improved comfort and longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring-based nasal dilators are used to stabilize and dilate nasal tissues, then the nasal passages are opened and breathing is improved, but delamination forces and user discomfort increase due to spring biasing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient layer is segmented into multiple zones with different resiliency characteristics. The first zone has higher resiliency to provide strong dilation force, while the second zone has lower resiliency to reduce delamination forces at the edges, thereby solving the contradiction between stabilization and discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the nasal dilator are given different mechanical properties. The central region maintains high resiliency for effective dilation, while the peripheral regions have reduced resiliency to minimize peel forces and improve adhesive bonding, thus resolving the contradiction between dilation effectiveness and user comfort
2Reliability
If adhesive is used to attach the nasal dilator to the skin, then the device remains in place during use, but adhesive attachment is compromised by moisture and skin oils
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer material layer is introduced between the adhesive and the skin. This intermediary layer protects the adhesive from direct contact with moisture and skin oils, while still allowing effective bonding. The buffer material absorbs harmful substances and prevents them from degrading the adhesive, thus resolving the contradiction between attachment reliability and environmental factors
3Force
If the entire resilient layer is made uniformly resilient, then the device provides consistent dilation force, but delamination occurs at the edges due to peel forces
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient layer is divided into functional zones with different resiliency levels. This segmentation allows the central area to maintain uniform high resiliency for consistent dilation, while peripheral areas have reduced resiliency to minimize peel forces at the edges, thus resolving the contradiction between force consistency and bond strength
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 design effectively stabilizes and dilates nasal tissues, reducing delamination forces and user discomfort, while allowing for easier removal and reduced adhesive usage, thus enhancing the durability and comfort of nasal dilators.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient layer comprising at least one resilient member... configured to provide a spring biasing force... redistribute spring biasing forces from peel and tensile forces to shear forces
Data Source
AI summary
A nasal dilator comprises a laminate of vertical layers each consisting of one or more members or components. The laminated layers form a unitary, or single body, truss featuring horizontal regions adapted to engage outer wall tissues of first and second nasal passages and to traverse the bridge of a nose therebetween. When in use the dilator acts to stabilize and/or expand the nasal outer wall tissues and prevent said tissues from drawing inward during breathing. The dilator includes means to direct its resilient properties comprising one or more interior or exterior material separations, or discontinuity of shape of material, formed in at least one region of the truss and extending through at least one layer of the dilator. Said material separation or discontinuity of shape may comprise an opening, relief cut, slit or notch, and which may be configured to separate or vertically protrude, in part, from the truss when the dilator is in use on the nose of a wearer. Said separation or vertical protrusion changes the angle of focused delaminating spring biasing forces generated by the resilient layer, transforming said forces, at least in part, from primarily peel forces into primarily shear forces, and further redistributing or imparting said transformed forces to tissue engaging surface areas extending outward and beyond said material separation.