VA Healthcare Innovation Report: Invention of special head gear helps Veterans with ear irregularities breathe easier

VA healthcare providers encounter a wide range of Veteran patient injuries and conditions that routinely present opportunities for innovations that will improve patients’ quality of life. One such innovation, developed recently by the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System’s Design-on-Demand innovation team is a special silicone band, which will hold oxygen cannula tubes for individuals who have lost cartilage around one or both ears. 

Traditional oxygen cannula tubing is typically rested over a patient's ears to create a secure fit and free oxygen flow to the nose fitting. For patients without one or both ears, tubing will not stay in place and oxygen flow is not reliably delivered. Patients have the option to wear a full facemask, but many patients find this to be both obtrusive and uncomfortable, and it often interferes with clear speech. The innovative molded silicone band addresses this challenge cleverly by securely holding the tubing to enable effective oxygen delivery without resorting to facemask use. 

This situation was faced by Veteran patient Alan Yak.

Yak, a U.S. Air Force Veteran who served during the Vietnam War, expressed concern regarding his ability to wear his oxygen correctly and comfortably. Eager to help resolve his need and find a solution, Yak’s occupational therapist Chelsey Meader contacted VANEOHS innovation specialist Gina Green for ideas.

The Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Design-on-Demand team then got to work. 

Through discussions with the patient and internal team meetings, biomedical engineer Zachary Thumser was inspired to refine a prototype originally created during the Covid-19 pandemic. The new silicone band incorporated special lobes to use friction to fasten tubes in place and accomplish the intended objective. The new device is effective, comfortable, washable and can be worn 24 hours a day. 

After a few weeks at home with the device, Alan Yak was asked if he’s still using the band: “Yes, I do! It’s been great. I use it every day—even in the shower.” 

“Sometimes the simplest solution is the best," Green said. "This band can be created on demand, on site, by our 3D printing service. The silicone band can be printed within 24 hours, and it’s ready for use by the patient quickly and with minimal training.” 

Green said this device has generated ideas for multiple new healthcare applications by the innovation team. 
"In the future we could adapt the band to help patients with skin breakdown, or facial deformities that make standard oxygen delivery difficult,” she said.

Design-on-Demand (DoD) is a collaborative effort involving the VANEOHS Innovation team, the Advanced Manufacturing/3D printing lab, and VA Engineering Health Innovations(vehiCLE) team at VANEOHS.  The goal of DoD is to scout out new problem spaces and bring the wide array of design, development, and prototyping skills at VANEOHS directly into clinical spaces, meet staff where they are encountering challenges, and generate new ideas and engineer appropriate solutions. Veteran patients and staff can reach out to the Design-on-Demand team at VHACLEDesignOnDemand@va.gov with specific inquiries.