Nasal Insert Airflow Control for Impulse Eating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Human tendency to engage in impulse eating due to the abundance of flavorful foods, which triggers hunger through olfactory stimulation, leading to excessive food consumption and related health issues like obesity.
Innovation Solution
A nasal insert designed to prevent or reduce odors from reaching the olfactory region by creating a sealed air passageway within the nasal cavity, using a compressible body with sealing members that direct airflow away from the olfactory area, thereby minimizing the sensory impact of food smells during eating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the nasal insert blocks odor from reaching the olfactory region, then impulse eating is reduced, but the ability to detect and enjoy food flavor is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal insert creates different airflow conditions in different regions of the nasal cavity. The sealed air passageway directs odorous particles away from the olfactory region while allowing breath to pass through the insert body, creating localized odor blocking without complete sensory deprivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The nasal insert acts as an intermediary device between the food odor source and the olfactory receptors. It modifies the airflow pathway, allowing breath to pass through while blocking the direct path of odorous particles to the olfactory region, thus mediating the interaction between food smell and taste perception.
2Productivity
If the nasal insert creates a sealed air passageway to block odor, then airflow control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal insert utilizes the flexible nature of the nasal cavity walls and the insert body itself to create the seal. The insert is pushed into the nasal cavity where it naturally conforms to the surrounding tissue, creating a seal without requiring complex mechanical sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The nasal insert relies on the user's own nasal cavity structure to provide the sealing function. When inserted correctly, the device uses the natural anatomy of the nose to create the sealed air passageway, eliminating the need for external sealing mechanisms or complex adjustment systems.
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 insert significantly reduces the impulse to eat by diminishing the sensory pleasure of food, flattening the eating experience, and aiding in weight management by decreasing overall food consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The nasal insert body can comprise a full or partial layer or layers between the inner and outer surface of the nasal insert body. The nasal insert body can be made of an absorbent material to absorb fluids.
Data Source
AI summary
An odor preventing nasal insert and method of insertion into a nasal cavity to prevent odors from reaching the olfactory region by directing them to bypass the olfactory region, thereby decreasing impulse eating and flattening the eating experience. The nasal insert comprises a body having an inner surface which defines an air passageway surrounded by an outer surface of soft, flexible material. The nasal insert body can have a first portion and a second portion where the outer surface of said nasal insert body is configured to form a seal between the nasal insert body and the nasal cavity. The nasal insert body further includes any number sealing members extending from the outer surface of the nasal insert body, where the sealing members are adapted to the nasal cavity and can prevent air flow between the nasal insert body and the nasal cavity.