Respiratory Vent Adaptor With Constant-Flow Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory therapy devices for conditions like Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease face challenges with comfort, ease of use, and compliance due to poorly fitting and uncomfortable patient interfaces, as well as noisy and inefficient ventilation systems.
Innovation Solution
The development of a respiratory pressure therapy system with a novel patient interface featuring a compliant face seal and latching mechanism, combined with a vent assembly that regulates airflow to maintain constant vent flow rates across therapeutic pressures, reducing noise and improving patient comfort and therapy efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional patient interface is used, then the device structure is simple, but the patient comfort and compliance deteriorate due to poor fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface incorporates a compliant face seal that dynamically adapts to different face shapes and sizes, transitioning from a rigid fixed structure to a flexible adaptive one. This allows the interface to conform to the patient's anatomy, improving comfort and compliance without requiring multiple different device models.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the face seal material to be compliant and adaptable, allowing it to deform and match various face geometries. This parameter change enables a single device design to serve multiple patient types, improving ease of operation while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional ventilation system is used, then the device structure is simple, but the noise level increases and ventilation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented into multiple functional components: a vent assembly with adjustable openings, a flow regulator, and a noise reduction chamber. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to reduce overall noise and improve ventilation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary flow regulator component between the pressure source and the patient interface. This intermediary device controls and smooths the airflow, reducing turbulence and associated noise while maintaining effective ventilation, thus addressing the contradiction between simple structure and noise reduction.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional patient interface is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ease of use deteriorates due to difficult adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface incorporates self-adjusting features where the compliant face seal automatically adapts to the patient's face shape upon engagement, without requiring manual adjustment. The latching mechanism also provides automatic securing, reducing the complexity of user operation while maintaining reasonable device structure.
4Productivity
If a non-vented patient interface is used, then the device structure is simple, but the airflow disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent assembly is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a structural component of the patient interface and as an active ventilation control mechanism. The adjustable openings allow the same structure to adapt between different ventilation requirements, improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 enhances patient compliance and therapy effectiveness by providing a comfortable, easy-to-use interface and efficient ventilation, minimizing noise and airflow disruptions, thus improving respiratory therapy outcomes.
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
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A fluid connector between patient interface and a respiratory therapy device and a vent adaptor for a respiratory pressure therapy system. The fluid connector comprising two parts, the first of which includes a seal and a latching portion and the second a complementary latching portion configured to engage the former to provide a fluid flow patch between the two parts. The vent adaptor comprising a vent assembly comprising a vent housing and an annular plate including an array of holes to discharge the pressurised gas to atmosphere and an deformable membrane which presses against the annular plate.