Reinforcing Member for NIPPV Cushion Lateral Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient interfaces for Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) face challenges in limiting the lateral expansion of the cushion when under pressure, which can lead to blowout and reduced sealing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcing member is integrated into the patient interface, specifically designed to provide varying levels of reinforcement along the side wall of the cushion, including integrally molded ribs and adjustable stiffness, to limit lateral expansion and enhance stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a reinforcing ring is added to the cushion, then lateral expansion is limited, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing member is integrated directly into the cushion structure during molding, combining the cushion and reinforcement into a single unified component. This eliminates the need for separate reinforcing rings that would need to be attached, thereby limiting lateral expansion while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate parts and their assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing member is positioned specifically at the gusset portion of the cushion where lateral expansion occurs, providing reinforcement only where needed rather than uniformly throughout the entire cushion structure. This localized approach limits expansion effectively while minimizing added complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If a reinforcing member with uniform stiffness is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but sealing efficiency is reduced due to inability to accommodate facial contours
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing member features variable stiffness along its length, with different sections having different rigidity characteristics to accommodate different regions of the patient's face. This allows the cushion to maintain sealing efficiency in high-contact areas while providing structural support where needed, without requiring complex multi-component construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffness parameter of the reinforcing member is varied continuously or in steps along its length, allowing the structure to adapt to different facial contours and pressure distributions. This parameter variation is achieved through molding techniques that create density or structural variations within the single reinforcing member, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving sealing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface includes a frame, a cushion, and a reinforcing member. The cushion has a non-face-contacting portion connected to the frame and a face-contacting portion adapted to engage the patient's face in use. The face-contacting portion includes a side wall and a flexible membrane extending from the side wall. The reinforcing member is provided to at least a portion of an interior and/or exterior surface of the side wall of the cushion. The reinforcing member provides reinforcement to the side wall of the cushion to at least limit lateral expansion of the cushion in use. The reinforcing member may have a stiffness that is selectively varied along its length.