Interchangeable Respiratory Interface Housing for Secure Mask Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient interface systems lack flexibility and compliance, particularly in terms of interchangeable components for gas delivery treatments, which can affect user comfort and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface assembly with interchangeable interface bodies, such as nasal cannula and masks, that can be detachably coupled to a housing, featuring a manifold for alignment and feedback mechanisms, securement members for stability, and conduits for gas flow, allowing for customizable and secure attachment options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed patient interface design is used, then manufacturing and inventory management are simplified, but user comfort and compliance decrease due to lack of customization
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is divided into separate modular components: interface bodies (cannula, nasal mask, full face mask) that can be detached and exchanged independently from the housing and securement members. This segmentation enables customization without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed with universal coupling features that can accommodate multiple types of interface bodies through the manifold interface. This multi-functionality allows a single housing unit to work with various interface types, providing adaptability without requiring multiple complete systems.
2Ease of operation
If interchangeable interface bodies are implemented, then user comfort and compliance improve through customization, but assembly alignment and seal integrity become more difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold incorporates asymmetric alignment features including a raised portion on one side and a corresponding recessed portion on the housing. This asymmetric design provides positive mechanical guidance that ensures precise alignment during assembly, preventing misalignment even as interface bodies are exchanged.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism includes feedback features such as audible clicks or tactile confirmation when the interface body is properly seated on the housing. This immediate feedback ensures that users can verify correct alignment and sealing without requiring complex measurement tools.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient interface for respiratory therapy includes an interface body and a housing for receiving the interface body. The patient interface also includes a securement member having a pair of support pads, each of the support pads configured to engage the face of a user. In some configurations, the interface body can be a cannula body or a mask body. In some configurations, the housing can receive different interface bodies, and the interface bodies are interchangeable.