Infant Pacifier Shield Offset Design for Mandible Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pacifier shield designs restrict the forward movement of the mandible, potentially reducing the beneficial effect on infant airway patency and increasing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome due to retrusive stimulation and force against the lower lip and mandible, which can obstruct the upper airway.
Innovation Solution
A shield design based on standardized biomarkers of the infant's face, with a superior portion that is concave laterally and an inferior portion offset outward, allowing the mandible to move anteriorly without inhibition, and featuring support pads for the maxillary arch and cheek, to facilitate nose breathing and forward mandible positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the shield lower part curves away from the face, then the shield provides support to the upper arch, but the mandible movement is restricted and retrusive force is applied to the lower lip and mandible
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion that are offset relative to each other. The upper portion provides support to the upper arch while the lower portion is offset to allow free mandible movement without applying retrusive force, thus resolving the contradiction between providing structural support and enabling natural jaw movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield employs asymmetric positioning where the lower portion is offset outward away from the face relative to the upper portion. This asymmetric design allows the upper arch to be supported while creating space for the mandible to move forward freely during sucking, eliminating the harmful retrusive stimulation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the shield is positioned to fit the face, then the shield provides stability and support, but the upper airway may be obstructed due to retrusive pressure on the mandible
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful retrusive pressure component is extracted by offsetting the lower portion of the shield outward away from the face. This removes the source of retrusive stimulation against the lower lip and mandible while maintaining the stabilizing support function of the upper portion, thereby preventing airway obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield design preemptively counteracts the potential harmful effect by positioning the lower portion offset outward, which prevents retrusive pressure from developing in the first place. This preliminary anti-action ensures that the mandible can move forward freely without being restrained by the shield structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the shield design is based on conventional safety testing and manufacturing ease, then the shield is simple to produce, but it does not account for anthropometric variations and may restrict perioral region movement
Solution Approach 1:
The shield applies different geometric characteristics to different regions: the upper portion has a specific curvature for support, while the lower portion is offset outward. This local differentiation allows the shield to accommodate anthropometric variations in the perioral region while maintaining ease of manufacture through a consistent offset design approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A shield for a pacifier, teether, feeding device, sippy cup or the like. The shield carries a structure that is adapted to be inserted into the mouth of a young child. There is a body defining an opening at which the structure is carried and an inner surface surrounding this opening and encompassing the perioral areas surrounding the lips. The body defines a superior portion superior to the opening and an inferior portion inferior to the opening, and defines a lateral axis passing laterally through the opening. The superior portion is generally concave laterally on both sides of the vertical midline, to define an inner surface that closely conforms to the upper lip and perioral areas. At least the part of the inferior portion close to and on either side of the vertical midline is offset outward away from the face compared to the inner surface of the superior portion that is close to and on either side of the vertical midline, to allow the mandible to move anteriorly without being inhibited by the shield.