Tracheostoma Holder With Moldable Disc for Non-Planar Stomas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tracheostoma device holders struggle with application on non-planar surfaces, particularly sunken stomas, leading to uneven force distribution, leakage, and premature device displacement, especially with automatic speaking valves.

Innovation Solution

A tracheostoma device holder with a thermoplastic disc and surrounding plate material, allowing for customizable molding to fit various stoma shapes, combined with a tubular fitting and retaining lip for secure attachment, ensuring even force distribution and reduced leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional tracheostoma device holder is used on a non-planar surface, then the device can be attached to the skin, but the adhesive surface adheres to the walls of the pit before reaching the bottom, causing uneven force distribution and leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidforce distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The plate is designed with a convex surface that matches the curved anatomy of the neck and stoma area. This curvature allows the plate to conform to the non-planar surface, ensuring the adhesive contacts the bottom of the pit rather than adhering to the walls, thereby achieving uniform force distribution and preventing leakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the plate is made rigid for secure attachment, then the device remains stable, but it cannot accommodate various stoma shapes and non-planar surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to stoma shapes
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The plate is designed with a convex surface that provides localized adaptation to the curved anatomy of the neck and stoma area. This local curvature allows the rigid plate to conform to various stoma shapes and non-planar surfaces while maintaining overall structural stability and secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the adhesive surface is increased to improve attachment on non-planar surfaces, then the device remains secure, but the complexity of application and force distribution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidapplication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The convex surface of the plate naturally conforms to the curved anatomy of the neck and stoma area, providing adequate adhesive contact area without requiring the adhesive to be extended or modified. This geometric design simplifies the application process while ensuring secure attachment and uniform force distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 improved positioning and secure attachment, reducing leakage and discomfort, while accommodating a range of stoma shapes and maintaining speech pressure, even on non-planar surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

at least the disc (50) is heated to somewhat over the melting temperature of the thermoplastic material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

The disc (50) of thermoplastic material is enclosed at least laterally and centrally by the surrounding plate material (40)... the disc (50) is heated to somewhat over the melting temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP3856308B1Tracheostoma device holder
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 COLOPLAST AS
  • EP3856308B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2
  • EP3856308B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3856308B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A tracheostoma device holder (10) for holding a tracheostoma device superimposed of a tracheostoma of a person is provided. The tracheostoma device holder (10) comprises a plate (30) for attachment over a tracheostoma via proximal side thereof, said plate (30) being provided with a through hole (39), a tracheostoma device fitting (20) being provided with a through passage (23) arranged superimposed the through hole (39), said tracheostoma device fitting (20) extending distally from the plate (30). The plate (30) comprises a disc (50) of a thermoplastic material enclosed by a plate material (40), wherein the plate material (40) has a melting point different from a melting point of the disc (50).