Nasal Interface Stability and Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nasal masks used in respiratory therapy often lack comfort and stability, leading to noise issues due to unsealed nasal prongs and potential dislodging during movement, necessitating improved designs that enhance stability and noise reduction.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a nasal interface with a frame, nasal delivery elements, and headgear that includes lateral supports and stabilizing features to maintain stability and reduce noise through controlled expiratory flow, utilizing adjustable and formable components to customize fit and minimize facial contact points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional nasal prongs are used without sealing, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but noise is significantly generated and sealing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal interface is segmented into distinct functional components: nasal pillows for sealing, lateral supports for stabilization, and headgear for retention. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while reducing overall noise through proper sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
Nasal pillows act as intermediary elements between the nasal prongs and the user's nares, providing a sealing interface that reduces noise generated by unsealed traditional prongs while maintaining ease of manufacture through simple pillow structures.
2Reliability
If nasal pillows are used to seal the nares, then sealing performance is improved and noise is reduced, but the longitudinal rigidity must be precisely controlled which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal rigidity of nasal pillows is controlled by changing material parameters and geometric parameters during manufacturing, allowing the pillows to provide adequate sealing performance without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the nasal pillow have different rigidity characteristics - the contact region with the nares is softer for sealing, while the support structure maintains appropriate rigidity. This local quality differentiation achieves reliable sealing without overall increased device complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple lateral supports are added to stabilize the frame, then stability is improved and mask dislodging is prevented, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into lateral supports that contact the zygomatic bones and a separate headgear system that provides retention. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall stability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Stability is achieved by extending supports into the lateral dimension (zygomatic bone contact) rather than only vertical support, and by using the headgear to provide retention in another dimension (over the head), thereby stabilizing the mask without adding excessive complexity in a single dimension.
4Force
If the headgear retention force is directly applied to the frame, then the securing force is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to concentrated pressure on the face
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission path is segmented into multiple components: headgear, lateral supports, and frame. This segmentation distributes the retention force across multiple contact points (zygomatic bones, maxilla) rather than concentrating it on a single facial area, improving comfort while maintaining adequate retention force.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention force is transmitted through lateral supports that contact the zygomatic bones laterally, rather than directly on the central face. This dimensional change in force application location distributes pressure and improves comfort while maintaining the necessary retention force.
Data Source
AI summary
Patient interfaces for respiratory therapy in the form of nasal interfaces or nasal masks include features that enhance or provide lateral stability of the interface. At least some of the embodiments provide multiple facial contact points or areas located in the general areas of the user's cheeks and/or upper lip. Some embodiments of the nasal interfaces provide advantageous sealing characteristics. The nasal interfaces may provide a controlled expiratory flow to reduce noise. Some embodiments include nasal pillows instead of or in addition to nasal prongs. The nasal pillows can have exhaust vents or can change in length in response to a pressure level within the nasal pillow.