Nasal Mask Assembly with Stiff Strap and Swivel Elbow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nasal masks for Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NPPV) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy face challenges in patient comfort, seal stability, and inventory management due to varied facial shapes, with issues such as nasal vent occlusion, stability, and sealing problems, especially at the nasal bridge and cheek regions.
Innovation Solution
A nasal mask assembly with a trapezoidal shaped cushion that minimizes contact with sensitive areas, a reduced number of connections for quick and intuitive attachment/detachment, and a headgear system that includes a stiff strap for added stability, eliminating the need for a forehead support and allowing easy use with glasses, along with a swivel elbow assembly for improved seal and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional nasal mask assembly with forehead support is used, then stability is improved, but device complexity and patient discomfort increase due to pressure on the forehead and nasal bridge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the forehead support structure from the mask assembly entirely. The headgear system is redesigned to provide stability through the straps alone, eliminating the complex forehead support mechanism that caused patient discomfort and device complexity issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a stiff strap within the headgear system to provide localized structural support and stability. This stiff strap is positioned strategically to maintain mask stability without requiring a forehead support, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the necessary stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a mask assembly with multiple connections is used, then stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in quick attachment and detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The mask assembly is divided into separable components with standardized connection interfaces. The headgear, mask, and cushion can be quickly attached and detached through simple connection mechanisms that maintain stability during use but allow rapid separation when needed, improving ease of operation without sacrificing connection stability.
3Reliability
If a cushion with large contact area is used, then sealing is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to pressure on sensitive areas
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion is designed with non-uniform pressure distribution, concentrating sealing force at specific contact points around the nasal perimeter while minimizing pressure on sensitive areas like the nasal bridge and cheeks. This localized sealing approach maintains reliable sealing without creating harmful pressure points, improving patient comfort while preserving seal quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient. An elbow assembly is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including one or more vent openings. A removable vent cover is detachably connected to the elbow assembly such that the vent cover is positioned in covering relation with respect to the one or more vent openings. The vent cover includes a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout. The vent cover includes a ring-shaped base defining an aperture into which a portion of the elbow assembly is inserted.