Patient Interface Vent and AAV Layout for Quiet Breathing Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory therapy devices, particularly for treating sleep disordered breathing, face challenges such as discomfort, poor fit, and reduced compliance due to inadequate seal-forming structures and stabilizing mechanisms, leading to inefficacy and patient non-adherence.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface with a plenum chamber, seal-forming structure, and positioning and stabilizing structure that maintains therapeutic pressure and allows for ambient breathing, featuring a vent and anti-asphyxia valve arrangement to regulate airflow and reduce noise, while being designed for comfort and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal-forming structure is used to maintain therapeutic pressure, then treatment efficacy is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface incorporates different structural zones: a rigid plenum chamber for maintaining therapeutic pressure, a flexible seal-forming structure for creating the seal, and a soft cushion for patient comfort. Each zone has optimized local properties to fulfill its specific function while minimizing negative effects on the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient interface is divided into separate functional components: the plenum chamber, the seal-forming structure, and the cushion. This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized for its specific function, enabling effective sealing and pressure maintenance while improving overall comfort.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid patient interface structure is used to maintain therapeutic pressure, then pressure stability is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is divided into separate functional components: the rigid plenum chamber for maintaining therapeutic pressure, the flexible seal-forming structure for creating the seal, and the soft cushion for patient comfort. This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized for its specific function, enabling effective sealing and pressure maintenance while improving overall comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient interface incorporates different structural zones: a rigid plenum chamber for maintaining therapeutic pressure, a flexible seal-forming structure for creating the seal, and a soft cushion for patient comfort. Each zone has optimized local properties to fulfill its specific function while minimizing negative effects on the patient.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a vent structure is added to discharge exhaled gas, then respiratory function is improved, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
A diffusing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the vent and the external environment. This diffusing member disperses the exhaled gas flow, reducing turbulence and associated noise while maintaining effective gas discharge functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusing member is designed as a simple, easily replaceable component that can be manufactured at low cost. Its primary function is noise reduction, and it can be replaced if needed without affecting the core functionality of the patient interface.
4Reliability
If an anti-asphyxia valve is added to allow ambient breathing, then patient safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-asphyxia valve is designed as a passive, self-activating mechanism that responds automatically to pressure differential conditions. When therapeutic pressure is insufficient, the valve automatically opens to allow ambient air intake, eliminating the need for active control systems or additional power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-asphyxia valve acts as an intermediary safety mechanism between the therapeutic gas supply and the patient. It provides a fail-safe pathway for ambient air intake when the primary therapeutic gas supply fails, enhancing patient safety without requiring complex monitoring or control systems.
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 solution enhances patient compliance by providing a comfortable, effective, and easy-to-use respiratory therapy interface that maintains therapeutic pressure and allows for ambient breathing, reducing noise and improving treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
a diffusing member provided to the shell portion and configured such that the port is covered by the diffusing member so that at least a portion of the vent flow of gas passes into the diffusing member
Implementation Method 2
an AAV member provided to the shell portion and configured to regulate flow through the port
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface to deliver a flow of air at a positive pressure to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing includes a seal-forming structure forming at least a portion of a plenum chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure and a vent and AAV arrangement. The vent and AAV arrangement is configured to regulate flow therethrough to (1) provide a vent flow path when pressure in the plenum chamber is above a predetermined magnitude and (2) provide a breathable flow path when pressure in the plenum chamber is below the predetermined magnitude or not delivered. The vent and AAV arrangement includes an AAV member including a flap portion structured and arranged to regulate flow through a port. The flap portion includes a plurality of vent holes therethrough.