Patient Interface Pad Segmentation for Facial Fit and Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient interface pads face challenges in providing comfort and adaptability to the diverse facial structures of individuals, leading to issues such as air leakage, skin sensitivity, and increased production time due to complex design and material requirements.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface pad design comprising a support section, an elastic section, and a comfort section, where the comfort section is made of foam or fabric materials, connected via an adhesive, allowing for modular production and quick adaptation to different facial contours, reducing production time and enhancing comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional patient interface pads are designed to fit diverse facial structures, then comfort and sealing performance are improved, but production time increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface pad is divided into three distinct sections: a support section for structural integrity, an elastic section for flexibility and adaptation, and a comfort section for facial contact. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and manufactured separately, then assembled together, reducing overall production time while maintaining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials with specific properties: the elastic section uses material with elasticity modulus of 0.01-10 MPa for flexibility, the comfort section uses material with elasticity modulus of 0.001-1 MPa for softness, and the support section uses material with elasticity modulus of 1-100 MPa for strength. This allows each section to be manufactured with optimized material properties, reducing the need for redesign when accommodating different facial structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If patient interface pads are customized for different facial shapes, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic section is designed with high elasticity (0.01-10 MPa) to dynamically adapt to various facial shapes and contours. This dynamic flexibility allows a single standardized design to accommodate diverse patients without requiring custom molding for each individual, reducing design complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the patient interface pad have different material properties optimized for their specific functions: the comfort section has the lowest elasticity modulus (0.001-1 MPa) for soft facial contact, the elastic section has intermediate elasticity (0.01-10 MPa) for structural flexibility, and the support section has the highest elasticity modulus (1-100 MPa) for mechanical strength. This local optimization allows standardized manufacturing while achieving customized fit through material property differentiation.
3Strength
If adhesive is applied extensively to ensure strong bonding, then connection strength is improved, but production time and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is applied in a continuous path along the perimeter of the fourth opening rather than covering the entire surface. This partial application approach provides sufficient bonding strength at the critical interface while minimizing adhesive material usage and application time, thereby improving production efficiency without compromising connection integrity.
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 design provides improved comfort and air-tightness, reduces production time by eliminating redesign steps, lowers material waste, and lowers production costs, making it more affordable and adaptable to various facial shapes.
Implementation Method 1
The first surface of the elastic section and the second surface of the comfort section are connectable by an adhesive
Implementation Method 2
The comfort section includes foam material
Implementation Method 3
The elastic section includes a third opening connectable to the support section, a fourth opening opposite the third opening
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface pad with good comfort, configured to supply pressurized gas to an airway, includes a support section, an elastic section, and a comfort section. The support section and the elastic section together form a complete patient interface pad; the material of the comfort section includes foam, fabric, or a composite of both; the comfort section has different three-dimensional shapes and is connected to the patient interface pad to form the patient interface pad; the disclosure also discloses a manufacturing method for the patient interface pad with good comfort, as well as the connection method between the comfort section and the patient interface pad which is through an adhesive.