Patient Interface Sealing Device with Interspace Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient interfaces face challenges in maintaining effective sealing and preventing moisture accumulation while allowing respiratory gas flow, which affects therapeutic pressure and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface with a sealing device featuring a support membrane and a sealing membrane, where the membranes are designed to form an interspace with a specific distance and angle, allowing respiratory gas flow and preventing moisture accumulation, and are produced from elastic materials like silicone to facilitate movement and fit securely around the face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single membrane structure is used for sealing, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but moisture accumulation occurs and respiratory gas flow is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device is divided into two functional membranes: a sealing membrane for contact with the patient's face to ensure sealing, and a support membrane positioned adjacent to it. The interspace between these segmented structures allows moisture to drain and respiratory gas to flow, preventing moisture accumulation while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a spatial dimension by creating an interspace between the sealing membrane and support membrane. This third dimension (the gap) enables simultaneous fulfillment of sealing, moisture drainage, and gas flow functions that cannot be achieved with a single two-dimensional membrane structure.
2Reliability
If the sealing membrane contacts the skin directly, then sealing is improved, but therapeutic pressure control and comfort are compromised due to moisture accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device separates the sealing function (sealing membrane contacting skin) from the moisture management function (support membrane with interspace for drainage). This segmentation allows effective sealing while preventing moisture buildup that would compromise comfort and therapeutic pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The interspace acts as an intermediary channel between the sealing membrane and the external environment, allowing moisture to drain away from the patient's skin while maintaining the sealing contact. This mediator structure resolves the conflict between direct skin contact for sealing and moisture management for comfort.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support structure is used, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to patient's face movement and shape is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Both the sealing membrane and support membrane are constructed from flexible, elastic materials that can deform and adapt to the contours of the patient's face and movements. This flexibility allows the membranes to maintain structural integrity while conforming to dynamic facial geometry, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane structure transitions from a static rigid form to a dynamic flexible system that can adapt its shape and position in response to patient's face movements. The elastic membranes continuously adjust their configuration while maintaining the interspace for moisture drainage and gas flow.
4Productivity
If the distance between membranes is increased to allow gas flow, then respiratory gas flow is improved, but sealing effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing membrane and support membrane are segmented into distinct functional zones: the sealing membrane maintains direct skin contact for sealing, while the support membrane is positioned at an optimized distance to enable gas flow and moisture drainage. This functional segmentation allows the interspace to facilitate respiratory gas flow without compromising the sealing contact at the skin interface.
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 ensures effective sealing, prevents moisture accumulation, and allows respiratory gas flow, enhancing comfort and therapeutic efficacy by maintaining proper pressure and reducing condensation.
Implementation Method 1
produced from elastic materials like silicone to facilitate movement and fit securely around the face
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface with a sealing device, the sealing device comprising a support membrane and a sealing membrane. The sealing membrane is designed at least in part to bear on the skin of a patient and the support membrane extends at least in part adjacent to the sealing membrane. The distance between the support membrane and the sealing membrane is at least in part such that an interspace is formed.