Soft Gel Respiratory Mask Seal for Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional respiratory masks often cause discomfort due to excessive force required for a good seal, leading to skin irritation and leakage issues, especially in prolonged use scenarios like medical applications, where the seal contact force exceeds local perfusion pressure and high gas pressures exacerbate discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A seal with an elastic casing filled with a soft gel substance, such as super soft silicone gel, providing increased conformability and comfort while maintaining an effective seal, as the elastic casing allows the gel to be more fluid and softer than conventional gel substances, reducing the need for excessive force and minimizing pressure points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional masks use a smooth sealing surface with predetermined contours and apply force to seal against the user's face, then a seal can be achieved, but excessive force is required which produces high pressure points and considerable user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sealing surface by using a gel substance with specific viscoelastic properties (loss tangent between 0.15 and 0.35) instead of conventional rigid or semi-rigid materials. This parameter change allows the seal to deform and conform to facial contours without requiring excessive force, thereby maintaining seal effectiveness while reducing pressure points and user discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite material system consisting of a gel substance combined with a binder material. The gel provides the viscoelastic sealing properties while the binder maintains structural integrity. This composite approach enables the seal to both conform to facial contours effectively and distribute applied forces to minimize pressure points, resolving the contradiction between seal reliability and user comfort
2Reliability
If conventional masks use air or fluid filled cushions to seal against the user's face, then sealing can be achieved, but the seal fit must precisely match predetermined contours which is not always possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting a gel substance with specific viscoelastic properties (loss tangent between 0.15 and 0.35) that enables the seal to adapt to various facial contours. This parameter change allows the seal to deform and conform to different face shapes without requiring precise predetermined contours, thereby improving both seal effectiveness and adaptability to various users
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic behavior to the sealing surface through the use of viscoelastic gel material. The seal can dynamically adjust its shape and distribution of forces in response to different facial contours and applied pressures. This dynamic adaptability allows the same seal design to effectively seal against various face shapes, resolving the contradiction between seal reliability and adaptability
3Reliability
If conventional masks are held against the face with tight headstraps to seal against high positive pressure gas, then sealing against leakage is achieved, but high localized pressure is produced on the face causing discomfort and possible skin breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the sealing surface to use a gel substance with specific viscoelastic properties (loss tangent between 0.15 and 0.35). This parameter change allows the seal to maintain its sealing effectiveness against high positive pressure gas while distributing the applied forces over a larger area, thereby preventing high localized pressure points and reducing the risk of skin breakdown
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite material system where the gel substance provides the force-distributing viscoelastic properties while the binder material maintains structural integrity. This composite approach enables the seal to withstand high positive pressure gas leakage forces while distributing the load to minimize localized pressure on the face, resolving the contradiction between seal reliability under pressure and prevention of skin irritation
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 soft gel seal enhances body tissue compatibility, provides a more effective seal, and increases user comfort by accommodating various facial contours without requiring excessive force, thus reducing skin irritation and leakage, even under high positive pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a soft gel substance, such as super soft silicone gel, providing increased conformability and comfort while maintaining an effective seal
Data Source
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AI summary
A seal (18) that contacts a portion of a patient to provide a comfortable interface between an external device, such as a respiratory mask, and the patient. The seal includes an elastic casing (27) filled with a soft gel substance (36) having a cone penetration of from about 5 to 200 penetrations.