Infant Pacifier Oxygen Delivery via Internal Passageways

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for delivering oxygen to infants, such as nasal cannulas, are often foreign and uncomfortable for infants, leading to resistance and discomfort, and do not resemble familiar pacifiers.

Innovation Solution

An oxygen delivery apparatus designed to resemble a familiar pacifier, featuring a mouthpiece with internal passageways that direct oxygen to the nostrils without the need for nasal cannula insertion, using a nipple and lip-engaging flange portions to enhance comfort and effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a nasal cannula is used to deliver oxygen to an infant, then oxygen delivery is effective, but the infant experiences discomfort and resistance due to the foreign object in the nostrils

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen delivery effectivenessVSAvoidinfant discomfort and resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the nasal cannula component entirely from the oxygen delivery system. Instead of inserting tubes into the infant's nostrils, the invention delivers oxygen through the mouthpiece and directs it along the oral cavity to reach the nostrils externally, thereby eliminating the harmful insertion while maintaining oxygen delivery effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the mouthpiece as an intermediary device that facilitates oxygen delivery without direct nasal insertion. The mouthpiece serves as a mediator that channels oxygen from the source through the infant's mouth and directs it toward the nostrils, replacing the direct nasal cannula approach with an indirect delivery path that is more acceptable to infants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a nasal cannula is taped to the infant's face to maintain position, then oxygen delivery stability is improved, but the infant's comfort and familiarity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecannula positioning stabilityVSAvoidinfant discomfort and unfamiliarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the oxygen delivery function with a familiar pacifier design into a single integrated device. The mouthpiece is configured to resemble a conventional pacifier, merging the therapeutic oxygen delivery function with a comforting, familiar object that infants already accept, thereby eliminating the need for separate cannula positioning and taping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a pacifier-like design is used without nasal cannula insertion, then infant comfort and familiarity are improved, but the complexity of directing oxygen to nostrils increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfant comfort and acceptanceVSAvoidoxygen delivery path configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional oxygen delivery approach by delivering oxygen through the mouth rather than directly into the nostrils. Instead of inserting the delivery device into the nostrils (conventional approach), the invention inserts the mouthpiece into the mouth and directs oxygen flow backward toward the nostrils, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 apparatus effectively delivers oxygen to infants without inserting tubes into their nostrils, promoting comfort and reducing oxygen loss, while resembling a familiar pacifier to alleviate resistance.

Implementation Method 1

the body portion of the mouthpiece includes a pair of internal passageways each having an inlet and an outlet and wherein the inlets of the passageways are adapted to accept oxygen delivered thereto from a source and wherein the outlets of the passageways are disposed at locations along the surface of the mouthpiece

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow through passageways:

Data Source

PatentUS8651108B2Infant pacifier for oxygen delivery

Publication Date: 2014.02.18 ALBANO BRIAN M

AI summary

An oxygen delivery apparatus for delivery of oxygen to an infant from a source includes a mouthpiece having a body portion and lip-engaging flange portions which surround the body portion and a nipple which extends to one side of the central body portion for acceptance by the mouth of an infant. The body portion of the mouthpiece includes a pair of internal passageways each having an inlet and an outlet and wherein the inlets of the passageways are adapted to accept oxygen delivered thereto from a source and wherein the outlets of the passageways are disposed at locations along the surface of the mouthpiece so that when the nipple is accepted by the mouth of an infant, the outlets of the passageways are disposed adjacent, but not within, the nostrils of the infant.