Stoma Breathing Protector with Finger-Free Airflow Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breathing protectors for laryngectomized or tracheotomized individuals face challenges in achieving a balance between providing effective antibacterial filtration and moisture exchange while maintaining a compact size, and they often become contaminated when a finger or thumb is used to block airflow during speech.
Innovation Solution
A multi-planar bacteriological filter is arranged around a rim with a larger circumference than the opening, combined with a flexible cover that can be pressed to close the inlet and outlet, allowing for increased surface area filtration without direct finger contact, and a heat-moisture exchanger to enhance moisture exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a finger or thumb is used to block airflow during speech, then the air flow can be obstructed to enable speech, but the filter becomes contaminated by transfer of impurities from the finger to the filter
Solution Approach 1:
A closing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the user's finger and the filter. This closing member can be activated to block airflow for speech while preventing direct contact between the finger and the filter, thus avoiding contamination of the filter while maintaining the ability to obstruct air flow.
2Reliability
If the surface area of the bacteriological filter is increased to improve antibacterial effect, then the filtration effectiveness increases, but the resistance over the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bacteriological filter is arranged in a multi-planar way around a rim with larger circumference than the opening. This three-dimensional arrangement increases the surface area for filtration without proportionally increasing the resistance, as the filter extends beyond the plane of the opening rather than simply thickening within it.
3Volume of moving object
If the size of the device is reduced to make it compact, then the device becomes more manageable, but the surface area for moisturizing and filtration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bacteriological filter is arranged in a multi-planar configuration around the rim, utilizing three-dimensional space rather than just the two-dimensional opening area. This allows the filter surface area to extend beyond the compact footprint of the device, providing adequate filtration area while maintaining a small overall device size.
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 provides over 99% antibacterial efficacy and improved moisture exchange with a compact design, reducing contamination risks during speech by using a flexible cover to control airflow without finger contact.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-moisture exchanger to enhance moisture exchange
Implementation Method 2
a bacteriological filter, such that said air flow will pass through said heat-moisture exchanger and said bacteriological filter
Data Source
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AI summary
A breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person is provided. This breathing protector is provided with an inlet and an outlet, such that an air flow in use will pass from the surroundings of said person through said inlet to said outlet, into trachea of said person. The breathing protector further comprises a heat-moisture exchanger (3) and a bacteriological filter (4), such that said air flow will pass through said heat-moisture exchanger and said bacteriological filter when said air flow in use passes through said inlet to said outlet. Also, the breathing protector is provided with a closing member (6) that may be activated to close the communication between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet.