Patient Interface with Flexible Nose Portion and Sealing Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapy masks are often uncomfortable, difficult to use, and poorly fitting, leading to reduced compliance and poorer patient outcomes due to issues with seal formation and pressure distribution on the face.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface device with a flexible portion that leaves the nose uncovered, a support portion, a positioning and stabilizing structure, a valve, and a vent, designed to control airflow and maintain therapeutic pressure while allowing for comfortable use during sleep.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal-forming structure is used to maintain therapeutic pressure, then therapy effectiveness is improved, but comfort and ease of use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is divided into separate nasal and oral portions that can independently form seals, allowing each region to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall comfort and effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the patient interface have specialized seal-forming structures tailored to local anatomical requirements, with the nasal portion providing a secure seal around the nares and the oral portion sealing around the mouth, ensuring both therapy effectiveness and comfort
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid structure is used to maintain seal, then seal stability is improved, but comfort and adaptability to different face shapes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface incorporates flexible and adjustable components that can dynamically adapt to different face shapes and sizes while maintaining stable seal formation, allowing the device to conform to various anatomical structures without compromising seal integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for adjustment of key parameters such as seal pressure, positioning, and configuration to accommodate different face shapes and sizes, enabling the same device to effectively seal across a range of anatomical variations while maintaining stable therapy delivery
3Reliability
If complex positioning structures are used to ensure proper fit, then seal formation is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of use increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into modular components including headgear, straps, and adjustable connectors that can be independently adjusted and assembled, simplifying the overall complexity while ensuring proper fit and seal formation through systematic positioning
Data Source
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Figure 1C
AI summary
A device for controlling air flow out of a patient's mouth while receiving a flow of pressurized air through the patient's nares is disclosed. The device may include: a flexible portion configured to leave the patient's nose uncovered during use; a support portion; a pair of connectors; and a positioning and stabilizing structure including a strap configured to be connected to each of the connectors. The device may also include a valve to allow the patient to orally inhale ambient air in the absence of the flow of pressurized air and a vent configured to allow a flow of air to pass to ambient continuously, or the device may also include a porous structure covering the air flow hole to restrict air flow into and out of the device during use, the flexible portion having a thickness to offset the porous structure from the contacting surface in an anterior direction.