Prone Respiration Pillow With Integrated Plenum Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
CPAP users often find traditional nasal masks and hoses uncomfortable, leading to nasal congestion, rhinitis, and difficulty sleeping in the prone position due to cumbersome equipment and air supply constraints, which can result in poor treatment adherence and increased risk of infection.
Innovation Solution
A head rest device with a facial cavity and plenum cavity system that allows for face-down prone respiration, featuring a removable and sanitizable support base with integrated air intake and exhalation pathways, a one-way check valve for ensuring adequate air flow, and a design that keeps air supply conduits away from the torso and arms, enabling comfortable and hygienic use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional nasal masks and hoses are used for CPAP therapy, then airway pressure support is provided, but user comfort deteriorates and nasal congestion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional nasal mask and hose from the system, extracting the problematic interface components while retaining the essential CPAP function through a headrest-based plenum system that delivers pressurized air directly to the airway without external masks or tubing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the air delivery system with the headrest structure, integrating the plenum cavity and air pathways into the headrest itself, thereby eliminating the need for separate masks and hoses while maintaining effective CPAP therapy delivery
2Reliability
If traditional CPAP masks are used, then airway support is maintained, but difficulty sleeping in prone position occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables prone position sleeping by reorienting the air delivery system from a traditional front-facing mask configuration to a headrest-based system with rearward-directed air pathways, allowing users to sleep face-down without equipment interference
3Reliability
If traditional CPAP equipment is used, then therapy is delivered, but infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the hose and external mask components that can harbor bacteria and contaminants, extracting these infection-prone elements while maintaining therapy delivery through the sanitized headrest plenum system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a sealable plenum cavity within the headrest that creates a controlled, isolatable environment for air delivery, preventing contamination from external sources while maintaining effective pressure support
4Reliability
If nasal masks are used for CPAP therapy, then airway pressure is delivered, but nasal congestion and rhinitis occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the nasal mask entirely from the system, extracting the source of nasal irritation and congestion while maintaining airway pressure delivery through alternative pathways that bypass direct nasal contact
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 device facilitates comfortable and hygienic face-down respiration by providing a customizable and infection-resistant air supply system, reducing discomfort and adherence issues while maintaining effective CPAP therapy, and allowing for easy cleaning and reuse.
Implementation Method 1
air pumped through at least one air pump intake pathway creates a plenum in plenum cavity which is inhaled by person
Implementation Method 2
The plenum may be in fluid communication with a one-way check valve
Data Source
AI summary
A device for face-down, prone respiration comprising a head support made of resilient material having a facial cavity conformable to the contours of a person's face, a plenum cavity in fluid communication with the person's face, a substantially L-shaped support base removably engaged to the head support, a horizontal member of the base engaged underneath the head support and a vertical member of the base engaged to an end of the head support proximate to the facial cavity and in fluid communication with the plenum cavity, the vertical member having at least one air pump intake pathway and at least one exhalation discharge pathway integral to the base whereby air pumped through at least one air pump intake pathway creates a plenum in plenum cavity which is inhaled by person and air exhaled by person is discharged back into plenum cavity and out the at least one exhalation discharge pathway.