Patient Interface Flow Redirection to Reduce Moisture Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapy devices, such as patient interfaces and air pressure generators, suffer from discomfort, poor fit, noise, and difficulty in use, leading to reduced patient compliance and ineffective treatment of respiratory disorders.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface with a device that alters the flow of breathable gas from turbulent to laminar, reducing moisture and heat loss from the mucosal surface, and includes apertures to maintain therapeutic pressure and CO2 washout, positioned within the plenum chamber or air delivery conduit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a patient interface delivers breathable gas to treat respiratory disorders, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but moisture and heat loss from the mucosal surface increases causing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
A device is introduced as an intermediary component within the patient interface to modify the flow characteristics of breathable gas. This device redirects the gas flow to reduce direct impingement on the mucosal surface, thereby maintaining therapeutic effectiveness while minimizing moisture and heat loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow parameters of the breathable gas are changed by introducing a flow redirecting device that alters the flow pattern from direct impingement to a more distributed flow. This changes the physical parameters of gas delivery to reduce harmful effects on the mucosal surface.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the patient interface structure is simplified to reduce noise and bulk, then patient comfort is improved, but maintaining therapeutic pressure and CO2 washout becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is segmented into functional zones: a plenum chamber for pressure maintenance, a flow redirecting device for flow management, and apertures for CO2 washout. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall structure compact and quiet.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow redirecting device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains therapeutic pressure, redirects gas flow to reduce moisture loss, and facilitates CO2 washout through integrated apertures. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing noise and bulk.
3Reliability
If existing patient interfaces are used, then respiratory therapy can be delivered, but patient compliance is reduced due to discomfort and difficulty in use
Solution Approach 1:
The flow redirecting device automatically adjusts gas flow patterns based on patient breathing dynamics without requiring manual intervention. The device self-regulates to maintain optimal flow characteristics, reducing the burden on the patient and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically changes flow parameters to optimize both therapeutic effectiveness and patient comfort. By adjusting flow patterns in real-time, the system maintains reliability while improving patient compliance through enhanced comfort.
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
Enhances patient comfort and compliance by minimizing moisture loss and CO2 rebreathing, while maintaining therapeutic pressure and reducing noise and bulk, thus improving the effectiveness of respiratory therapy.
Implementation Method 1
the device changes the flow flowing towards a mucosal surface of a patient's airways such that a rate of heat and water loss from the mucosal surface is reduced
Implementation Method 2
the predetermined size of the at least one aperture and the predetermined surface area of the device are selected such that a predetermined amount of breathable gas flows through the at least one aperture
Implementation Method 3
the device changes the flow flowing towards a mucosal surface of a patient's airways such that a rate of heat and water loss from the mucosal surface is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of air to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing may include: a seal-forming structure to form a pneumatic seal with the entrance to the patient's airways; a positioning and stabilising structure to maintain the seal-forming structure in sealing contact with an area surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways; a plenum chamber pressurised at a pressure above ambient pressure in use; a connection port for the delivery of the flow of breathable gas into the patient interface; and a device positioned within a breathing chamber defined, at least in part, by the seal-forming structure and the plenum chamber, wherein the device divides the breathing chamber into a posterior chamber and an anterior chamber, and wherein the device comprises a plurality of apertures such that turbulence of the air in the posterior chamber is less than turbulence in the air in the anterior chamber.