Nasal Protrusion Patient Interface for Stable Respiratory Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapy devices, such as CPAP machines, often suffer from discomfort, poor fit, and reduced compliance due to obtrusive, poorly fitting masks that fail to maintain adequate pressure and comfort during long-term use, especially during sleep.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface design featuring a plenum structure, a seal-forming structure with protrusions that fit into the nares, and a positioning and stabilizing structure to maintain the seal and comfort, while allowing for easy cleaning and adjustment to accommodate different facial shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional mask is used to deliver respiratory therapy, then therapeutic pressure can be delivered to the patient, but the mask becomes obtrusive and uncomfortable during long-term use
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is divided into separate functional components: a headgear assembly that provides positioning and stabilization, and a separate patient interface component (mouthpiece or nasal interface) that delivers therapy. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the headgear for comfort and stability, and the interface for effective pressure delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing and positioning functions are extracted from the traditional mask design and transferred to a headgear assembly with stabilizing members. This removes the bulk of the mask structure, leaving only the essential therapy delivery component in contact with the patient, thereby reducing obtrusiveness while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a secure fit is achieved to maintain therapeutic pressure, then pressure stability is improved, but the device becomes more obtrusive and less comfortable
Solution Approach 1:
Stabilizing members are introduced as intermediary elements between the headgear and the patient interface. These members extend laterally to engage with stabilizing structures on the patient interface, creating a distributed stabilization system that maintains pressure stability without requiring a bulky or obtrusive mask design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient interface component is designed with flexible, thin-walled construction that can conform to the patient's anatomy while maintaining structural integrity for pressure delivery. This flexibility allows for a secure, comfortable fit without the need for rigid, obtrusive structures.
3Ease of repair
If the patient interface is simplified for easy cleaning, then maintenance ease is improved, but sealing effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is segmented into a removable, washable component (mouthpiece or nasal interface) and a reusable headgear assembly. The interface component can be easily removed and cleaned without disassembling the entire device, while the headgear with its stabilizing members maintains the sealing and positioning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted and concentrated in the patient interface component rather than being distributed throughout a complex mask structure. This concentrated sealing design is easier to clean while maintaining effectiveness, as it eliminates crevices and complex geometries that trap contaminants.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface is configured to deliver a pressurized flow of respiratory gas to a patient's airways. The patient interface includes a cradle base configured to cradle the patient's nose in use. Two protrusions extend from the cradle base and are configured to be inserted into the patient's nares in use. Each of the protrusions have formed therein an opening configured to allow a continuous flow of air therethrough. In addition, a plenum base forms a plenum chamber together with the cradle base. The cradle base is configured so that movement of the cradle base is decoupled from the plenum base.