Textile CPAP Interface with Stiffened Customization for Seal and Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapy devices and interfaces, such as CPAP masks, suffer from discomfort, poor fit, and reduced compliance due to inadequate seal-forming structures, positioning, and stabilizing mechanisms, leading to leaks and reduced effectiveness in treating sleep disordered breathing.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface with a textile construction, including a stiffened portion for customization, a one-piece textile headgear with integrated straps, and a magnetic coupling system for secure fit, allowing for a flexible and adjustable seal around the nares while maintaining therapeutic pressure and enabling ambient breathing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional CPAP mask with separate components is used, then the device can provide therapeutic pressure, but the fit is poor and leaks occur due to inadequate seal-forming structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the seal-forming structure and positioning structure into a single integrated patient interface component. This merging eliminates gaps and misalignments between separate parts, creating a unified structure that simultaneously forms the seal and positions itself on the patient's face, thereby improving both seal effectiveness and fit quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a resilient seal element that can dynamically adapt its shape and position in response to patient movement and facial contours. This dynamic capability allows the seal-forming structure to maintain effective sealing despite variations in patient anatomy and movement during therapy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing positioning and stabilizing mechanisms are used, then the device can be secured to the patient's face, but discomfort and reduced compliance occur due to poor fit
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient seal element provides dynamic adaptation to patient movement and facial contours, allowing the device to maintain comfort and seal effectiveness throughout the night without requiring frequent adjustments or causing pressure points that would reduce compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes material property changes, specifically the resilience and elasticity of the seal element, to achieve adaptability. The material can deform under compression to conform to facial features and then recover to maintain seal pressure, providing both adjustability and comfort without mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid structure is used to maintain seal shape, then the seal can retain its form, but comfort is reduced due to lack of flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs material property changes, specifically the resilience and elasticity of the seal element, to achieve adaptability. The material can deform under compression to conform to facial features and then recover to maintain seal pressure, providing both adjustability and comfort without mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient interface utilizes composite construction with a resilient seal element that combines flexibility and shape retention. This composite approach allows the seal to be sufficiently compliant for comfort while maintaining enough structural integrity to retain its sealing shape under therapeutic pressure.
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
Enhances patient comfort and compliance by providing a secure, adjustable fit that minimizes leaks and allows for ambient breathing, thereby improving therapy efficacy and manufacturability.
Implementation Method 1
a stiffener (1210) coupled to the seal-forming structure (1202) and the positioning and stabilizing structure (1204)... wherein the stiffener (1210) is constructed from a second textile material configured, upon application of treatment, to have a treatment-induced stiffness that is greater than a stiffness of the first textile material
Implementation Method 2
A patient interface with a textile construction, including a stiffened portion for customization, a one-piece textile headgear with integrated straps, and a magnetic coupling system for secure fit
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a patient interface comprising a plenum chamber, a seal-forming structure, and a positioning and stabilizing structure, as well as the method of operating the patient interface. The patient's interface is configured to leave a patient's mouth uncovered or if the seal-forming structure is configured to seal around a patient's nose and mouth, the patient interface is configured to allow the patient to breath from the ambient in an absence of the flow of pressurized. The positioning and stabilizing structure includes headgear, and the seal-forming structure and at least a portion of the headgear is formed from a one piece construction of textile material. In another embodiment, the seal- forming structure and/or the positioning and stabilising structure includes an adaptive portion that adjusts based on usage conditions. In another embodiment, the positioning and stabilizing structure, the seal-forming structure and/or the plenum chamber includes and/or is formed of a textile material, and the textile material includes at least one magnetic thread constructed of magnetic material to provide a magnetic interaction between a first part of the patient interface and a second part of the patient interface. In another embodiment, a stiffener is coupled to the plenum chamber, the seal-forming structure, and/or the positioning and stabilizing structure. In another embodiment, at least one of the plenum chamber and the seal-forming structure includes a textile material; and wherein the textile material includes a surface structure that limits adhesion of debris. A UV cleaning receptacle of the patient interface is also disclosed.