Nasal EPAP Dilator with Differential Valve and Structural Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nasal EPAP devices do not effectively dilate the nasal passageway to improve inhalation airflow while restricting exhalation airflow, often leading to increased resistance during inhalation and potential blowout of valves during exhalation.
Innovation Solution
A nasal dilator with a housing that provides variable dilation and incorporates flaps with open and closed configurations, supported by spars or a screen to prevent blowout during exhalation and allow free inhalation airflow, featuring a bridge connection for stability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nasal EPAP device is used to restrict exhalation airflow, then exhalation resistance is increased, but inhalation resistance also increases and valves may blow out during exhalation
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the airflow control function into separate components: a housing that dilates the nasal passageway and a valve mechanism that selectively restricts exhalation. This segmentation allows independent optimization of inhalation comfort and exhalation restriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device inverts the traditional approach by using a dilator housing that actively expands the nasal passageway to reduce inhalation resistance, rather than simply placing a restrictive valve in the nasal cavity. This inversion ensures that inhalation is facilitated while exhalation is selectively restricted.
2Ease of operation
If nasal passage dilation is increased to improve inhalation airflow, then inhalation resistance decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is constructed from flexible materials that can be inserted and deployed within the nasal passageway. This flexibility allows the housing to conform to the nasal anatomy and provide effective dilation without requiring complex rigid structures or multiple adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing design allows for self-insertion and automatic deployment within the nasal passageway. The flexible structure naturally expands to provide dilation when inserted, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms or professional fitting procedures.
3Reliability
If valve restriction is increased to improve exhalation resistance, then exhalation control is enhanced, but valve blowout risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dilator housing provides a counterbalancing structural support that opposes the forces acting on the valve during exhalation. By actively dilating and stabilizing the nasal passageway, the housing creates a mechanical counterforce that prevents valve blowout while maintaining effective exhalation restriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing performs preliminary dilation of the nasal passageway before the valve needs to restrict exhalation. This pre-establishment of structural support prepares the system to handle exhalation forces without valve failure.
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 nasal dilator increases inhalation airflow by dilating the nasal passageway and restricts exhalation airflow, reducing overall airflow resistance and preventing valve blowout, thereby improving breathing comfort and efficacy for sleep-disordered breathing treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The housing's exterior surface is shaped to fit within a user's nasal passageway and expands the nasal passageway to create a dilation
Implementation Method 2
a valve closer to the housing's inner end that allows inhalation airflow through the housing's interior space when the valve is in its open configuration and restricts exhalation airflow when the valve is in its closed configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A nasal EPAP dilator is employed as an intranasal device which effect differing degrees of inhibition/easing for exhalation/inhalation. A nasal dilator incorporates an outer housing that functions as a pair of connected mirror image nasal dilators, combined with a differential-action valve mechanism modulating the airflow through the passages defined by the dilators, when inserted. The valve greatly inhibits exhalation, while opening easily to inhalation which in combination with the dilating effect is thereby eased over the absence of the nasal dilator. The nasal dilator housings include spars or a screen for structural support and a stoppage mechanism for the valves and to moderate the degree of movement of a plurality of valves so that the valves can open for inhalation, and are restrained to mostly close during exhalation.