Segmented Tongue Advancer Assembly for Sleep Apnea
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tongue manipulation devices for treating obstructive sleep apnea are limited by patient discomfort and manufacturing challenges due to the use of stiff and resilient materials like Nitinol, which are difficult to machine and manufacture into tongue advancers.
Innovation Solution
A tongue advancer assembly comprising a core mount and a Nitinol tongue advancer, where the core mount and tongue advancer are made from different materials, with a fixing element such as a pin allowing for efficient and cost-effective manufacturing, enabling the use of machineable materials like stainless steel, titanium, or durable plastic for the core mount, and Nitinol for the tongue advancer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Nitinol material is used for the tongue advancer, then the device provides necessary resilience and memory properties for effective airway stabilization, but the device becomes difficult and costly to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue advancer assembly is divided into two separate components: a core mount made from machineable materials (stainless steel, titanium, or durable plastic) and a Nitinol tongue advancer. The core mount serves as the structural framework that is easy to manufacture, while the Nitinol component provides the necessary elastic properties. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without the manufacturing difficulties associated with machining Nitinol.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines two different materials - a machineable material for the core mount and Nitinol for the tongue advancer - to create a composite assembly that leverages the advantages of both materials. The core mount provides structural integrity and ease of manufacture, while the Nitinol component provides resilience and memory properties for effective airway stabilization.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single-material construction is used for the tongue advancer, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the device cannot provide both structural integrity and elastic properties
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into two functional parts with different material requirements. The core mount is made from a single machineable material that provides structural integrity and is easy to manufacture. The separate Nitinol tongue advancer component provides the necessary elastic properties. This segmentation allows the device to achieve both manufacturing simplicity and mechanical versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining a machineable material (stainless steel, titanium, or durable plastic) for the core mount with Nitinol for the tongue advancer, the invention creates a composite assembly that exhibits a range of mechanical properties that neither material could provide alone. The core mount provides rigidity and structural support, while the Nitinol component provides elasticity and memory properties.
3Ease of manufacture
If the core mount and tongue advancer are made from the same material, then manufacturing is more straightforward, but the device cannot optimize both machineability and elastic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue advancer assembly is segmented into a core mount and a tongue advancer component, each made from materials optimized for their specific function. The core mount is made from machineable materials that can be precisely manufactured, while the tongue advancer is made from Nitinol to optimize elastic performance. This segmentation enables both material consistency within each component and performance optimization across the assembly.
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 allows for the efficient and cost-effective production of tongue advancer assemblies that can be easily observed for faults, improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing patient discomfort, while maintaining the necessary mechanical properties for effective airway stabilization.
Implementation Method 1
the fixing element comprises a pin, wherein the core mount comprises a slit configured such that the tongue advancer tether and the pin locating the tongue advancer tether can be observed through the slit
Implementation Method 2
the tongue advancer tether comprises a first loop, the first loop configured to pass around the pin to couple the tongue advancer tether to the tongue advancer assembly
Implementation Method 3
a nitinol tongue advancer for attachment to a tongue
Implementation Method 4
Conventional tongue advancer implants are formed from a stiff and resilient material which locates the implant within the tongue. A typical material used is Nitinol.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A tongue advancer assembly (305) for a tongue manipulation system, the tongue advancer assembly (305) comprising: a core mount (703) comprising a connection rod coupling configured to couple the tongue advancer assembly to a distal end of a connection rod (303); and a tongue advancer (701)configured to be coupled to the core mount (703).