Sensor-Controlled Nasal Aspirator Automatic Suction Trigger

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional nasal aspirators are cumbersome and prone to operational errors due to the placement of the switch button on the handle, leading to difficulty in aligning the suction head with the nasal cavity and increased risk of shaking during use, which complicates the cleaning process.

Innovation Solution

A sensor-controlled nasal aspirator equipped with a distance sensing unit, micro processing unit, and air pump that automatically initiates suction when the nasal cavity is detected within a predetermined distance, reducing user error and improving operational efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the switch button is disposed on the shell member of the handle, then the user can control the nasal aspirator, but the user spends more time to find the switch button by touch and may miss the timing of pressing it

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidtime to find switch button

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical switch button system with an automatic sensor-based control system. The distance sensing unit detects the position of the nasal cavity automatically, eliminating the need for manual button pressing. This substitution of mechanical control with automated sensing directly resolves the contradiction by removing the time-consuming manual search for the switch button while maintaining operational control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the user presses the switch button by finger to start cleaning, then the cleaning operation can be initiated, but the suction head shakes and deviates from the nasal cavity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidstability of suction head position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates manual button pressing by implementing automatic sensor-based control. The distance sensing unit triggers the air pump automatically when the nasal cavity is detected, removing the mechanical action of finger pressing that caused suction head shaking. This maintains operational ease while improving stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the user presses the switch button again to stop the operation after completing cleaning, then the operation can be stopped, but it is inconvenient for the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidtime to stop operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual stop control with automatic sensor-based termination. When the distance sensing unit detects that the nasal cavity is no longer within the preset distance range, it automatically stops the air pump operation. This eliminates the need for manual button pressing to stop, making the operation more convenient and saving time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If the conventional nasal aspirator is used, then the structure is simple, but the user may shake the suction head to deviate from the nasal cavity during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidstability of suction head position

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a sensor-based automatic control system that detects nasal cavity position and triggers suction automatically. This additional sensing and processing components increase device complexity slightly but eliminate manual button pressing that caused suction head shaking, thereby improving operational stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 sensor-controlled nasal aspirator enables faster, more accurate, and stable operation by automatically adjusting the suction action based on sensed distance, enhancing user convenience and reducing operational uncertainty.

Implementation Method 1

the distance sensing unit is an infra-red sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfra-red sensing: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

the distance sensing unit is an ultrasound sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasound sensing: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentUS10207033B2Sensor-controlled nasal aspirator

Publication Date: 2019.02.19 AVITA CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure illustrates a sensor-controlled nasal aspirator including a distance sensing unit, a micro processing unit and an air pump. The distance sensing unit is configured to sense a distance between a target object and the distance sensing unit. The micro processing unit is configured to store a preset distance, and receive and process the distance transmitted from the distance sensing unit, and transmit an action command signal when the distance is not higher than the preset distance. The air pump is configured to receive the action command signal and performs a target action according to the action command signal.