Nebulizer Housing With Directional Airflow Resistance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nebulizers struggle to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing the impact on user breathing comfort, as increasing airflow resistance during inhalation also increases exhalation resistance, causing discomfort and affecting tolerance to prolonged treatment.
Innovation Solution
A nebulizer with a flexible shielding member on the housing that dynamically adjusts airflow based on direction, increasing inhalation resistance for stable, slow breathing and reducing exhalation resistance to ensure comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the air inlet size is reduced to increase inhalation airflow resistance, then the user's inhalation rate is slowed down, but the airflow resistance during exhalation is also increased, causing discomfort and affecting user tolerance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible shielding member that dynamically adjusts the opening area of the air inlet based on airflow direction. During inhalation, the flexible member is drawn inward by negative pressure, reducing the opening area to increase resistance and slow inhalation rate. During exhalation, positive pressure pushes the flexible member outward, increasing the opening area to reduce resistance and prevent discomfort. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between controlling inhalation speed and maintaining exhalation comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible shielding member changes the physical parameter of opening area in response to airflow direction. When the user inhales, the opening area decreases to increase resistance; when the user exhales, the opening area increases to decrease resistance. This parameter change allows the system to optimize performance for each breathing phase separately, addressing the contradiction between inhalation control and exhalation comfort.
2Reliability
If the air inlet size is reduced to guide stable and slow breathing, then therapeutic efficacy is improved, but user comfort during prolonged treatment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible shielding member provides dynamic resistance adjustment that adapts to the user's breathing phase. During inhalation, it creates resistance to promote stable and slow breathing patterns that improve therapeutic efficacy. During exhalation, it automatically reduces resistance to maintain user comfort during prolonged treatment. This dynamic behavior allows the system to simultaneously achieve breathing stability for therapy and comfort for user tolerance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of increased resistance during exhalation into a beneficial automatic adaptation. The flexible shielding member uses the exhalation pressure itself to increase the opening area, thereby reducing exhalation resistance. This transforms what would be a harmful side effect into a self-regulating mechanism that maintains both therapeutic effectiveness and user comfort.
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
Enhances therapeutic efficacy by deeper lung penetration of aerosolized particles while maintaining user comfort by minimizing exhalation resistance and preventing pressure buildup.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible shielding member is configured to dynamically adjust an airflow passing through the openings based on a direction of the airflow entering or exiting the mouthpiece
Data Source
AI summary
A nebulizer includes a main body, a housing assembly, a cup body, and a nebulizing module. The housing assembly includes a housing and a flexible shielding member. The housing is engaged with the main body. An air chamber is provided inside the housing. The housing includes a mouthpiece. A sidewall of the housing is provided with a plurality of openings, and the plurality of openings are in fluid communication with the mouthpiece via the air chamber. The flexible shielding member covers at least one of the openings. The cup body is engaged with the housing. A liquid storage chamber is provided inside the cup body. A bottom of the housing is provided with a through hole that is in fluid communication with the liquid storage chamber, and the liquid storage chamber is in fluid communication with the air chamber via the through hole.