Torque-Resistant Patient Interface Deformation Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Respiratory interface devices face challenges in maintaining a secure seal on patients' faces due to varying facial geometries and the need to balance comfort and stability, often resulting in mask dislodgment during sleep position changes.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface with a deformation portion at its connection point to the air supply, designed to be more deformable than other parts, allowing it to absorb torque and maintain the seal without compromising comfort by pivoting about a central axis while deforming peripherally to absorb non-pivot torques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the headgear strapping force is increased to stabilize the mask, then the stability of the device is improved, but the patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface incorporates a deformation portion with locally reduced thickness at the connection point, creating a zone of controlled flexibility. This localized structural variation allows the connection point to deform and absorb torque while the rest of the mask maintains its sealing integrity against the patient's face, thus stabilizing the device without requiring increased strapping force that would compromise comfort
2Reliability
If the mask portion is made more secure to prevent dislodgment, then the stability of the device is improved, but the patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation portion creates a localized flexible zone at the air supply connection point, allowing this specific area to move and deform independently. This enables the mask to remain securely sealed against the patient's face while the connection point absorbs mechanical stresses and torques, preventing dislodgment without increasing overall mask tightness that would reduce comfort
3Reliability
If the patient interface is made more rigid to maintain seal integrity, then the reliability is improved, but the ability to absorb torque deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface features a deformation portion with reduced thickness specifically at the air supply connection point, creating a localized flexible zone. This allows the connection point to deform and absorb torque from the air supply tube while the rest of the mask structure remains rigid enough to maintain seal integrity against the patient's face
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation portion introduces a dynamic element to the otherwise rigid patient interface. This flexible zone can deform in response to applied torques and then return to its original position, allowing the connection point to adapt to movements and maintain the seal without compromising the overall structural integrity of the mask
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 solution effectively maintains the integrity of the seal between the patient interface and the patient, ensuring continuous therapeutic airflow without discomfort, even when subjected to various torques and loads, thus enhancing the reliability of respiratory interface devices.
Implementation Method 1
a deformation portion at its point of connection with an air supply, with the deformation portion being relatively more deformable than the other portions of the patient interface in order to resist torque applied by the air supply
Data Source
AI summary
An patient interface that reliably maintains a seal between it and the patient. The patient interface advantageously includes a deformation portion at its point of connection with an air supply, with the deformation portion being relatively more deformable than the other portions of the patient interface in order to resist torque applied by the air supply from disturbing the seal between the patient interface and the patient. While the air supply is pivotably connected with the patient interface and is pivotable about a pivot axis, a torque applied about an axis other than the pivot axis results in deformation of the deformation portion and thus advantageously avoids breaking the seal between the patient interface and the patient.