Breath-Through Pacifier With Exchangeable HME Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breath-through pacifiers do not effectively condition inhaled air, leading to dehydration and exposure to polluted or infected air when nose breathing is inhibited, and they are not easily adaptable to different environments or situations.
Innovation Solution
A pacifier system with a reusable suction part and exchangeable housing parts, featuring a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) device and/or filter device, allowing for easy adaptation to different situations and environments by changing the housing parts, which includes a HME device to prevent dehydration and a filter device to reduce hazardous substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a breath-through pacifier is used to allow mouth breathing, then the user can breathe when nasal airways are obstructed, but the inhaled air is unconditioned (dry, cold, polluted) which causes dehydration and exposure to harmful substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a housing part containing HME and filter devices as an intermediary component between the external environment and the user's mouth. This intermediary conditions the air by filtering pollutants and exchanging heat and moisture, thereby resolving the contradiction between enabling mouth breathing and protecting against harmful air quality factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The pacifier is divided into separable components: a reusable suction part and exchangeable housing parts. This segmentation allows the housing to be removed for cleaning and replaced with different housing parts containing HME and filter devices, enabling the system to provide air conditioning functions while maintaining ease of cleaning and adaptability.
2Loss of substance
If the housing is made non-disposable to reduce waste, then environmental impact is reduced, but the housing becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed as a separate, removable component that can be completely detached from the suction part for thorough cleaning. This segmentation enables the housing to be reused without compromising hygiene, as it can be fully cleaned and disinfected, preventing bacterial growth while reducing waste from disposable pacifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a hybrid approach where the housing is made reusable (non-disposable) to reduce waste, but it is designed to be easily removable and replaceable. This allows the housing to serve multiple uses while maintaining hygiene through complete cleaning, avoiding the need for disposable components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the pacifier includes HME and filter devices to condition air, then air quality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The HME and filter devices are integrated into a separate housing part that is removable from the suction part. This segmentation simplifies the overall device structure by separating the air conditioning functions from the core pacifier components, making the system easier to manufacture, assemble, and maintain while still providing advanced air conditioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing part serves multiple functions: it contains the HME and filter devices for air conditioning, can be completely removed for cleaning, and can be exchanged for different housing parts with different HME or filter configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby simplifying the overall device complexity.
4Reliability
If the housing is made disposable to ensure hygiene, then hygiene quality is maintained, but manufacturing cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed as a separate, removable component that can be fully detached from the suction part. This segmentation enables the housing to be reused multiple times after complete cleaning and disinfection, eliminating the need for disposable housings while maintaining high hygiene standards. This approach reduces manufacturing costs and environmental impact compared to single-use disposable pacifiers.
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
The system improves air quality by preventing dehydration and reducing hazardous substance inhalation, providing a versatile and effective solution for various environments, especially in polluted conditions, while maintaining comfort and usability.
Implementation Method 1
said housing comprises at least one heat and moisture exchanger (HME) device
Implementation Method 2
said housing comprises at least one heat and moisture exchanger (HME) device and/or at least one filter device
Data Source
AI summary
A pacifier comprising a suction part comprising a nipple and a shield connected to each other; and a housing part connected to said suction part, wherein said suction part defines a passageway through which a fluid can pass from outside the pacifier to inside a mouth of a user of the pacifier such that the pacifier is configured as a breath-through pacifier, wherein said housing part comprises a housing, wherein said housing comprises, in an interior space of the housing, at least one heat and moisture exchanger (HME) device and/or at least one filter device, and wherein the housing defines at least one air opening through which air can pass such that the air passing between the at least one air opening of the housing and the passageway of the suction part has to pass through the at least one HME device and/or the at least one filter device.