Patient Interface Headgear With Textured Elastomer Straps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory mask systems often cause discomfort due to high headgear tension, tube drag, and noise, which can disrupt sleep and reduce therapy compliance in patients with sleep disordered breathing.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface system with a molded elastomer headgear that includes textured surfaces, increased strap radius, and textiles for comfort, along with a decoupling system to isolate tube drag forces from the seal, and a vent design with progressively displaced holes to reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional headgear systems are used to secure the mask, then the mask can be retained in position, but high headgear tension causes discomfort and facial marking
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear system is divided into multiple independent straps (front strap, rear strap, and side straps) that can be adjusted separately. This segmentation allows the mask to be secured through distributed tension rather than concentrated force, reducing discomfort and facial marking while maintaining retention stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The headgear straps incorporate adjustable length and tension parameters, allowing the user to modify the securing force to a comfortable level. Additionally, the use of flexible materials with appropriate elasticity enables the headgear to adapt to different head shapes and sizes, reducing pressure points and facial marking while maintaining effective mask retention.
2Device complexity
If the air delivery tube is directly connected to the mask frame, then the connection is simple, but tube drag forces disrupt the seal and cause discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The air delivery tube connection is extracted from the rigid mask frame and attached to a flexible component (such as a flexible elbow or bellows-like structure). This separation allows the tube drag forces to be absorbed by the flexible element rather than transmitted to the seal, maintaining both connection simplicity and seal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible bellows-like structure or flexible elbow is introduced between the mask frame and the air delivery tube. This flexible component absorbs tube drag forces through its elasticity and movement capability, preventing disruption of the seal while maintaining a simple overall connection structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard vent holes are used in the mask frame, then manufacturing is simple, but they produce high levels of noise that disrupt sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The vent structure incorporates progressively displaced holes arranged in a specific pattern rather than uniform holes. This local variation in hole positioning creates a diffused exhaust pattern that reduces noise levels. The manufacturing process remains relatively simple as it involves standard drilling or molding techniques, but the specific arrangement of holes achieves noise reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent holes are arranged in progressively displaced positions in multiple dimensions rather than a single plane or uniform pattern. This three-dimensional arrangement of vent holes diffuses the exhaust flow and reduces noise generation while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard molding or drilling processes.
4Strength
If rigid frame structures are used to support the cushion, then structural strength is adequate, but the system produces noise and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid frame structure is replaced with flexible components (such as flexible elbows, bellows-like structures, or flexible straps) that can absorb movements and vibrations. These flexible elements maintain adequate structural strength for supporting the cushion while reducing noise generation and discomfort associated with rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask system incorporates composite construction combining rigid elements (for structural strength and seal formation) with flexible elements (for noise reduction and comfort). This composite approach allows different parts of the system to have optimized properties - rigid where strength is needed and flexible where noise and comfort are concerns.
Data Source
AI summary
A headgear for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes at least a strap adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient's airways. The strap is constructed from an elastomer and a first side of the strap includes a first region on a portion of its surface that is textured to reduce friction with objects contacting the strap. A textured surface coating for a portion of an elastomer strap included in a headgear system is adapted to contact the skin of a patient, when in use, and the coating has a Ra value greater than zero. A vent for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes a plurality of rises and runs in a stepped arrangement; and a plurality of holes in the stepped arrangement for the venting of gas.