Spring-Loaded Forehead Support for Leak-Stable Patient Interface Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient interface devices for ventilators often have complex and difficult-to-adjust forehead rests, leading to discomfort and leaks, especially during extended wear, as users struggle to remember and re-adjust the locking positions for proper fit and pressure distribution.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface adjustment device featuring a head harness with a support body and spring element that compresses to provide secure positioning, allowing for stepless adjustment and easy assembly, with a spring element that compresses to adapt to the user's forehead shape, ensuring optimal fit and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a forehead rest with adjustment mechanism is used to ensure safe positioning and reduce forces on the face, then positioning accuracy and comfort are improved, but the device becomes too complicated and difficult to adjust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex adjustment mechanism from the forehead rest, extracting only the essential support function. The forehead rest becomes a simple support body that engages with the mask body, eliminating complicated locking mechanisms while maintaining positioning reliability through the spring element's automatic adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element enables the forehead rest to automatically adjust and maintain positioning without user intervention. The elastic element self-regulates the position of the support body relative to the mask body, providing reliable positioning through self-adjustment rather than complex manual mechanisms.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a forehead rest with locking mechanism is used to maintain position, then positioning stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users must remember and re-adjust locking positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static locking mechanism into a dynamic spring-based system. The support body can move relative to the mask body through the elastic element, allowing continuous adjustment as the user's head position changes. This dynamic system maintains stability through the spring force rather than fixed locking positions, eliminating the need to remember specific adjustment settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element allows the position parameter of the support body to change continuously within the elastic range. Instead of discrete locked positions, the system provides a range of positions that automatically adapt to user needs, improving ease of operation while maintaining stability through the restoring force of the elastic element.
3Measurement precision
If a rigid support structure is used to maintain forehead rest position, then positioning precision is improved, but wearing comfort deteriorates due to pressure points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the support structure. The support body has a specific engagement geometry with the mask body for precise positioning, while the interface with the user's head allows for adaptive contact. The spring element provides localized elastic deformation at the contact point, distributing pressure and eliminating hard pressure points while maintaining overall positioning precision.
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 device offers improved wearing comfort and secure positioning by allowing for precise and effortless adjustment of the patient interface, maintaining optimal fit and minimizing pressure points and leaks, even during changes in position, such as when sleeping.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (9, 9'), the tightening force of the head harness (20) via the harness mount (6) on the spring element is transmitted so that the spring element is compressed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 2
AI summary
Support device for a patient interface (1) on the patients forehead, which has an adjustment by means of an automatic integrated spring element (9, 9) and depending on the tightening force of the harness (20) by means of the spring force the forehead pad (8) on the forehead of the patient user presses and thus offers the patient-friendly distance of the patient interface and ensures an optimal, error-free adjustment.