Respiratory Vent Adaptor With Self-Regulating Membrane Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory therapy devices and interfaces for treating sleep disordered breathing and other respiratory disorders face challenges such as discomfort, poor fit, noise, and reduced patient compliance due to issues with seal-forming portions, positioning, and vent technologies, leading to inefficiencies in delivering therapy effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of a respiratory pressure therapy system with improved patient interfaces featuring a seal-forming structure that adapts to the face, a positioning and stabilizing structure for secure fit, and a vent assembly with a membrane that regulates airflow to maintain constant vent flow rates across therapeutic pressures, enhancing comfort and therapy efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vent assembly with multiple holes is used to discharge pressurized gas, then the venting capability is improved, but the noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating zones of different hole densities within the annular surface. The first plurality of holes is positioned closer to the central orifice with a first density, while the second plurality of holes is positioned farther away with a second density. This non-uniform distribution optimizes local flow characteristics to reduce noise while maintaining overall venting effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension hole arrangement to a two-dimensional annular pattern with radial variation. By arranging holes in concentric patterns at different radial distances from the central orifice, the design exploits the annular geometry to distribute flow more evenly and reduce turbulent noise while preserving venting capacity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the membrane is positioned to cover more holes at higher pressures, then the vent flow rate is maintained constant, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane operates autonomously based on pressure differential alone. At higher therapeutic pressures, the membrane is naturally pushed toward the annular surface, automatically covering more holes and reducing vent flow. At lower pressures, the membrane retracts, exposing more holes to increase vent flow. This self-regulating mechanism maintains constant vent flow without external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic pressure from the therapy circuit itself to actuate the membrane. The therapeutic pressure differential across the membrane provides the driving force for its movement, eliminating the need for separate actuators, motors, or control electronics. This leverages the existing pneumatic environment to achieve flow regulation.
3Reliability
If a seal-forming structure is used to interface with the patient's face, then the therapy delivery effectiveness is improved, but the patient comfort may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seal-forming structure utilizes flexible materials that can conform to the patient's facial contours. This flexibility allows the interface to adapt to individual anatomical variations while maintaining an effective seal for therapy delivery, reducing discomfort associated with rigid or ill-fitting components.
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 system provides improved comfort and compliance by reducing noise and airflow variability, ensuring effective delivery of therapy while minimizing power consumption and device complexity, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane positioned adjacent to the annular surface, wherein the membrane is movable such that the membrane is urged against the annular surface of the vent housing as the pressure of the pressurized gas within the vent assembly increases
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a patient interface for providing respiratory therapy to a patient with a therapy flow of gas pressurized at a therapeutic pressure above ambient pressure, the patient interface comprising: a seal-forming structure; a plenum chamber joined to the seal-forming structure; a positioning and stabilising structure including at least one tie; and a vent system, the vent system comprising: a vent housing comprising a base having a plurality of first orifices extending through the base; a plurality of second orifices; and a membrane positioned adjacent to the base, wherein the pressurized volume is in fluid communication with atmosphere through the plurality of first orifices and the plurality of second orifices, wherein the membrane is elastically deformable, and wherein the membrane is not attached to the vent housing such that the membrane is freely movable towards and away from the base.