Variable Flow Vent Assembly for CPAP Mask Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory disorder treatment systems, particularly for conditions like Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, face challenges with uncomfortable, difficult-to-use, and aesthetically unappealing masks that lead to reduced patient compliance due to poor fit and discomfort, especially during long-term use or sleep.
Innovation Solution
A patient interface with a vent assembly that incorporates conduit headgear, where the air conduit functions to position and stabilize the seal-forming structure, and a valve system that adjusts vent flow based on breathing cycles to maintain therapeutic pressure and reduce air wastage, enhancing comfort and compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mask is used for delivering pressurized air to treat respiratory disorders, then therapeutic effect is improved, but patient compliance deteriorates due to discomfort and poor fit
Solution Approach 1:
The vent assembly incorporates a valve that dynamically adjusts vent flow based on breathing cycles, transitioning between different vent flow states to maintain therapeutic pressure during inhalation and allow exhalation during exhalation phases. This dynamic adaptation improves both therapeutic effectiveness and patient comfort during long-term use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the vent flow parameter in response to breathing cycle detection, adjusting between restricted vent flow during inhalation and increased vent flow during exhalation. This parameter modulation maintains optimal therapeutic pressure while reducing air wastage and improving patient compliance.
2Ease of operation
If vent holes are provided to allow exhaled gas to escape, then exhalation comfort is improved, but air wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve dynamically modulates the opening of vent holes based on breathing phase detection. During inhalation, vent flow is restricted to maintain pressure. During exhalation, vent flow is increased to facilitate comfortable exhalation. This dynamic control reduces overall air wastage while maintaining exhalation comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent assembly operates in periodic cycles synchronized with the patient's breathing rhythm, alternating between restricted venting during inhalation and enhanced venting during exhalation. This periodic action pattern minimizes air wastage while ensuring comfortable exhalation when needed.
3Reliability
If therapeutic pressure is maintained during inhalation, then treatment efficacy is improved, but noise and air wastage increase during exhalation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system dynamically adjusts vent flow resistance based on breathing phase. During inhalation, the valve maintains restricted vent flow to preserve therapeutic pressure buildup. During exhalation, the valve opens to increase vent flow, reducing pressure buildup and associated noise and air wastage, while treatment efficacy is maintained through cyclic pressure control.
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 improves patient compliance by providing a more comfortable and effective delivery of pressurized air, reducing noise and air wastage, while maintaining therapeutic pressure, thus enhancing the treatment efficacy for respiratory disorders.
Implementation Method 1
a valve configured to adopt a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the valve at least partially blocks the plurality of vent holes by a different amount in the first configuration compared to the second configuration
Implementation Method 2
delivering a flow of breathable gas at a positive pressure to an airway entrance of a patient
Implementation Method 3
allowing oxygen to move from the inhaled air into the venous blood and carbon dioxide to move in the opposite direction
Data Source
AI summary
The technology relates to a variable flow vent assembly for a conduit mask configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas at a positive pressure to an airway entrance of a patient and allow a flow of exhaled gas from the airway of the patient to exit the vent assembly to ambient. The variable flow vent assembly is further configured to include a valve, wherein the valve is arranged to allow for the regulation of the flow of breathable gas to the patient and the regulation of the vent flow rate of exhaled gas leaving the vent assembly to ambient. By changing certain characteristics of the valve and by tuning the valve through variants in design, the resultant vent flow rate for a given air pressure can be altered in order to obtain the best treatment outcome for the patients individual requirements.