Patient Interface Seal Maintenance via Scissor Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
In respiratory therapy, patient interfaces often experience leaks due to disruptive forces like tube drag, which reduce the effectiveness and compliance of treatments like CPAP and NIPPV, as the seal between the interface and the patient's face is compromised by movement during sleep.
Innovation Solution
The development of patient interface systems that incorporate mechanisms such as scissor mechanisms, support pads, fluid chambers, and resilient members to maintain or restore the seal by counteracting disruptive forces and ensuring the patient interface remains effectively sealed against the face, even when air pressure alone is insufficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air pressure is used to maintain the seal between the patient interface and the patient's face, then the seal effectiveness is improved initially, but the seal degrades over time as the patient moves and tube drag alters the positioning of the patient interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the patient interface movable rather than fixed. The interface is designed to move with the patient's face as they shift positions during sleep, maintaining continuous seal contact. This dynamic adaptation allows the seal to remain effective throughout the night despite patient movement and tube drag forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient interface system uses self-service by utilizing the patient's own facial movements to drive the interface. As the patient's face moves, the interface automatically follows and repositions itself to maintain the seal, without requiring external adjustment mechanisms or additional energy input from the system.
2Reliability
If the patient interface is designed to be secure and stable, then the seal is maintained better, but the device complexity increases with additional mechanisms like scissor mechanisms, support pads, fluid chambers, and resilient members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated patient interface structure. The support pad, scissor mechanism, fluid chamber, and resilient members are combined into one unified device that works together to maintain the seal, rather than being separate components. This integration reduces overall system complexity while maintaining seal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient interface is designed with multi-functionality, where a single structure performs multiple roles: the support pad provides structural support, the fluid chamber maintains pressure, the resilient members provide sealing force, and the scissor mechanism allows movement. This multi-functional design achieves reliable seal maintenance without requiring multiple separate devices.
3Force
If air pressure is applied to the underside of the mask seal to urge the flap into sealing position, then the seal force is improved, but the seal becomes vulnerable to disruptive forces like tube drag that can alter interface positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by using resilient members that exert a counteracting force against tube drag. These resilient members are positioned to provide a counterbalancing force that opposes the disruptive forces from the air delivery tube, thereby maintaining the seal position despite tube movement and drag forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient interface employs preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning the seal and support structures to anticipate and resist tube drag forces before they can disrupt the seal. The resilient members are pre-loaded and the support pad is pre-positioned to counteract expected disruptive forces, preventing seal degradation before it occurs.
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
These systems effectively prevent or minimize leaks, ensuring consistent therapy delivery and patient comfort by maintaining a robust seal despite disruptive forces, thereby enhancing the quality and reliability of respiratory treatments.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid-filled chamber extending from a non-seal side portion on the non-patient contacting side to a seal-side portion on the patient contacting side
Implementation Method 2
the inner wall elastically expands as fluid flows from the non-seal side portion to the seal-side portion of the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface system for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a patient interface configured to sealingly engage the patient's face. A mechanism may be provided to ensure that an effective seal is maintained between the patient interface and the patient's face by preventing, reducing, minimizing or limiting effects of disruptive forces, such as tube drag, on the patient interface.