Veterinary Mask with Asymmetric Oval Opening for Muzzle Fit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current animal masks are uncomfortable, ill-fitting, and difficult to seal effectively, leading to stress, discomfort, and potential rebreathing of gases due to their conical shape, which requires sedation for prolonged use and is challenging for animals with dolicephalic faces.
Innovation Solution
A mask with a non-round, oval-shaped opening and resilient walls that conform to the animal's muzzle, featuring a flattened top and bottom, and a cushion-like seal to reduce stress and improve fit, eliminating the need for sedation and minimizing dead space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conical mask is pushed tightly up the animal's snout to cover the commissure of the lips, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but animal comfort and stress levels deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mask transitions from a symmetric conical shape to an asymmetric design with a flattened top and bottom and an oval opening. This asymmetric configuration allows the mask to conform to the natural contours of the animal's muzzle without requiring excessive force, thereby achieving sealing effectiveness while reducing stress and discomfort to the animal.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask incorporates a flattened top region that specifically avoids contact with the animal's eyes and sensitive areas, while other portions of the mask maintain contact for sealing purposes. This localized differentiation of contact properties allows effective sealing at the commissure while protecting vulnerable areas from pressure and discomfort.
2Reliability
If a conical mask is used to cover the commissure of the lips, then sealing is improved, but the mask volume increases leading to larger dead space and potential rebreathing
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric design with flattened top and bottom creates a more compact mask configuration that achieves effective sealing without the excessive volume inherent in traditional conical masks. This reduced volume minimizes dead space while maintaining the necessary seal over the commissure of the lips.
3Reliability
If a conical mask is pushed far back on the animal's muzzle to ensure coverage, then sealing is improved, but vision is obscured and comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flattened top design specifically addresses the vision obstruction problem by creating a low-profile upper surface that does not extend over the animal's eyes. This asymmetric configuration allows the mask to be positioned far back for effective sealing while maintaining clear vision for the animal.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask design differentiates between regions: the top portion is flattened to avoid eye contact and preserve vision, while the lower and lateral portions maintain contact for sealing. This localized quality distribution resolves the conflict between sealing effectiveness and visual access.
4Ease of manufacture
If a conical mask with circular opening is used, then manufacturing is simple, but fit to the animal's muzzle is poor causing stress
Solution Approach 1:
The transition from a symmetric circular opening to an asymmetric oval opening with flattened top and bottom improves the fit to the animal's muzzle contours. This asymmetric shape better accommodates the natural geometry of the muzzle while remaining manufacturable using standard molding techniques.
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 mask reduces stress and discomfort in animals, allows for effective sealing without sedation, and minimizes rebreathing of gases by conforming to the muzzle shape, accommodating different facial structures, and reducing interference with vision.
Implementation Method 1
the walls of the mask proximate the opening being arranged to substantially conform to the shape of the muzzle of the animal and being of resilient material to hug the muzzle of an animal wearing the mask
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an improved mask apparatus for veterinary applications. The mask may be used for dogs in particular. Most prior art masks are conical. This leads to problems in comfort and effectiveness. The present mask has a cross sectional profile and an opening shaped similar to an animal's muzzle. It has a flat top and a flat bottom, slightly wider than the top, and rounded sides. It also extends backwardly from the top of the opening to the bottom of the opening, so as to comfortably cover the commissure of the animal's lips.