Nasal Pillow Inner Support Structure Prevents Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nasal pillows used in patient interface devices for respiratory therapy often collapse under pressure, restricting airflow due to their deformation, which limits the effectiveness of positive airway pressure therapy for conditions like obstructive sleep apnea.
Innovation Solution
A nasal pillow design featuring an outer casing with lower rigidity and an inner support structure with higher rigidity, allowing for a more stable and compact shape that maintains open airflow channels even under pressure, comprising a two-part structure where the inner support structure has a higher durometer than the outer casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the nasal pillow is made with a single material structure, then the manufacturing is simple, but the pillow collapses under pressure restricting airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal pillow is constructed using composite materials with an outer casing made of a first material (e.g., silicone) and an inner support structure made of a second material (e.g., thermoplastic polyurethane) that has different mechanical properties. This composite construction allows the outer casing to remain soft and comfortable while the inner support structure provides rigidity to prevent collapse under pressure, thereby maintaining airflow reliability without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
2Ease of operation
If the nasal pillow uses a softer outer casing, then patient comfort is improved, but the pillow deforms under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal pillow employs local quality by assigning different material properties to different regions of the device. The outer casing is made from a softer material (e.g., silicone with durometer 10-30) to provide comfort at the patient interface, while the inner support structure is made from a harder material (e.g., thermoplastic polyurethane with durometer 40-60) to maintain shape stability. This spatial differentiation of material properties allows the soft outer casing to comfort the patient without causing overall deformation, as the rigid inner structure provides local support where needed.
3Reliability
If the nasal pillow is inserted deeper into the nostril to form a seal, then the seal quality is improved, but the pillow collapses and restricts airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material construction enables the nasal pillow to be inserted deeper into the nostril for improved sealing while preventing collapse. The inner support structure made of rigid material (durometer 40-60) provides the necessary structural integrity to resist the collapsing forces encountered during deep insertion, while the outer soft casing (durometer 10-30) maintains comfort. This allows the pillow to achieve both deep insertion for sealing and maintained airflow through prevention of collapse.
Data Source
AI summary
A nasal pillow adapted for use with a patient interface device, the nasal pillow including an outer casing structured to define an interior area; and an inner support structure disposed in the interior area, wherein a rigidity of the inner support structure is greater than a rigidity of the outer casing.