Software breathing assistance system

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of soft breathing auxiliary system, comprising: soft pressing module, electromagnetic valve, sensor unit, flow proportional valve, mute air pump, opto-coupler relay, analog-digital converter, main controller, battery pack and host computer, wherein the mute air pump, flow proportional valve, soft pressing module and electromagnetic valve are sequentially connected by trachea, the soft pressing module is connected with sensor unit, the sensor unit is connected with main controller by analog-digital converter, the main controller is also connected with flow proportional valve by opto-coupler relay, the host computer is connected with main controller, and the battery pack is connected with main controller, flow proportional valve, electromagnetic valve and sensor unit respectively.The utility model has the advantages of light weight, large output force, good man-machine compatibility, etc., by lightweight wearable pressing unit design, the rehabilitation method of physician can be effectively simulated, and the use demand of portable home respiratory assistance is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of respiratory rehabilitation, specifically to a soft respiratory assist system. Background Technology

[0002] The number of patients with respiratory dysfunction worldwide is increasing year by year. The large number of patients and the shortage of hospital resources make home-based respiratory rehabilitation an increasingly urgent need. Active respiratory assistance is essential for improving cardiopulmonary function and quality of life. Currently used positive pressure ventilators force air into the lungs through the mouth using positive pressure. This long-term, unnatural positive pressure in-body respiratory assistance can easily cause lung damage and alveolar collapse. Furthermore, the pressure on hospitalization due to the large population makes home-based rehabilitation and even outdoor mobile rehabilitation an inevitable trend. The development of soft wearable robot technology in recent years has brought opportunities for the research and development of new respiratory assistance devices. However, current respiratory assistance systems suffer from problems such as low output force of the soft structure, poor human-machine compatibility, and unnatural assisted breathing. There is an urgent need for a lightweight, portable, and precise respiratory assistance system to meet the needs of home rehabilitation. Utility Model Content

[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a soft respiratory assist system that effectively solves the problems of poor comfort and unnatural breathing assistance in the long-term use of current respiratory assist systems. It achieves non-invasive and safe full-phase respiratory assistance, providing a new possibility for home rehabilitation.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to achieve the above objectives is as follows:

[0005] A soft-operated respiratory assist system includes: a soft-operated compression module, a solenoid valve, a sensor unit, a flow proportional valve, a silent air pump, an optocoupler relay, an analog-to-digital converter, a main controller, a battery pack, and a host computer.

[0006] The silent air pump, flow proportional valve, soft pressing module, and solenoid valve are connected sequentially via air pipes. The soft pressing module is connected to the sensor unit, which is connected to the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter. The main controller is also connected to the flow proportional valve via an optocoupler relay. The host computer is connected to the main controller, and the battery pack is connected to the main controller, flow proportional valve, solenoid valve, and sensor unit, respectively.

[0007] The sensor unit includes: a respiratory flow meter, a barometric pressure sensor, a pressure sensor, and a flexible tensile sensor, wherein:

[0008] The respiratory flow meter is installed at the mouth and nose of the human body;

[0009] The flexible stretch sensor is wrapped around the human chest and abdomen;

[0010] The pressure sensor is connected to the air bladder of the soft compression module via a tubing.

[0011] The flexible stretch sensor is positioned between the soft pressing module and the human body, attached to the surface of the soft pressing module and in direct contact with the human body;

[0012] The respiratory flow meter, air pressure sensor, pressure sensor, and flexible tensile sensor are connected to the analog-to-digital converter via data cables.

[0013] The soft compression module includes an airbag, an air tube, a detachable vest, and Velcro, wherein:

[0014] The airbags are fixed to the detachable vest in an array. The vest has four airbags symmetrically arranged on the chest for pressing the lower chest, and they are divided into two branches: two closer to the center line of the vest and two further away from the center line. The vest's abdomen is divided into three areas: left, middle, and right, with a total of five airbags, and they are divided into two branches: three in the middle area for pressing the middle part of the abdomen, and two in the left and right side areas for pressing the sides of the abdomen. Each airbag is connected to a flow proportional valve via an air tube, and airbags on the same branch share a single air tube. The vest's shoulders and sides are designed to be separate and connected with Velcro.

[0015] The airbag is made of TPU material and has a multi-layer design. Its thickness is 2mm when it is not inflated and up to 17cm when it is inflated.

[0016] The respiratory flow meter is connected to the IIC communication interface of the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter.

[0017] The pressure sensor is connected to the SPI communication interface of the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter.

[0018] The pressure sensor is connected to the UART serial port of the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter.

[0019] A method for implementing a soft respiratory assist system includes the following steps:

[0020] The main controller acquires human respiratory data collected by the respiratory flow meter and the trend and magnitude of changes in human chest and abdominal circumference collected by the flexible stretch sensor. During the exhalation phase, the main controller controls the opening of the flow proportional valve through an optocoupler relay in the form of PWM based on the information obtained from the air pressure sensor and the pressure sensor, so that the air pressure in the airbag reaches the specified value. During the inhalation phase, the main controller controls the opening of the solenoid valve through the optocoupler relay to expel the gas in the airbag.

[0021] The analog data collected by the respiratory flow meter is transmitted to the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter using the IIC communication protocol.

[0022] The analog data collected by the barometric pressure sensor is transmitted to the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter using the SPI communication protocol.

[0023] The analog data collected by the pressure sensor is sent to the main controller via serial port through an analog-to-digital converter.

[0024] This utility model has the following beneficial effects and advantages:

[0025] 1. This utility model proposes a soft breathing assistance system, which adopts a biomimetic soft drive structure to simulate the physiological process of natural breathing, which is more in line with the human physiological mechanism and can effectively ensure the safety of breathing assistance during long-term use;

[0026] 2. Through flexible materials and lightweight design, this utility model allows the device to fit snugly against the chest and abdomen, solving the problem of poor human-machine compatibility of traditional devices. It supports respiratory rehabilitation in home, outdoor mobile and other scenarios, and meets the requirements for portable use.

[0027] 3. This utility model adopts a distributed airbag arrangement, which can simulate the rehabilitation techniques of rehabilitation physicians to the greatest extent and provide patients with more effective respiratory rehabilitation. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a system structure block diagram of this utility model;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the soft pressing module of this utility model;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a comparison diagram of the hysteresis of the flow proportional valve of this utility model with and without PWM control. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0032] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the utility model. Therefore, this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the specification of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

[0034] like Figure 1 The diagram shown is a system structure block diagram of this utility model;

[0035] A soft-body breathing assist system includes a soft-body compression module, a solenoid valve, a sensor unit, a flow proportional valve, a silent air pump, an optocoupler relay, an analog-to-digital converter, a main controller, a battery pack, and a host computer. The soft-body compression module acts on the human body to provide pressure for assisted breathing and is connected to the solenoid valve and sensor unit. The sensor unit measures respiratory-related data. The solenoid valve deflates the soft-body compression module. The silent air pump is connected to the flow proportional valve via an air tube, providing power to the breathing assist system and controlling precise inflation. The optocoupler relay receives control signals from the main controller and acts on the flow proportional valve. The battery pack powers the main controller, flow proportional valve, solenoid valve, and sensor unit. The host computer is connected to the main controller and displays the operating parameters of the breathing assist system and sends control commands. This invention features lightweight construction, high output force, and good human-machine compatibility. Its lightweight, wearable compression unit design meets the needs of portable home breathing assistance.

[0036] like Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural diagram of the soft pressing module of this utility model;

[0037] The soft compression module consists of several parts, including an array of airbags, trachea, a detachable vest, and Velcro straps. The vest has four airbags on the chest that apply pressure to the lower chest, divided into two channels: two in the middle and two on each side. The upper channel primarily suppresses incorrect chest breathing and guides the patient towards abdominal breathing. The abdomen has five airbags: three in the middle apply pressure to the central abdomen, generating greater output force to assist exhalation; the two on each side apply pressure to the sides of the abdomen. Each airbag is connected to a flow proportioning valve via a trachea. The boundary between the chest and abdomen is arc-shaped, conforming to human anatomy and avoiding discomfort from applying pressure to the ribcage. The vest design facilitates easy wear; the vest material is required to have a certain degree of rigidity to prevent elastic deformation. The vest's shoulders and sides are detachable and connected with Velcro. This design maximizes the simulation of rehabilitation therapists' assistive techniques, thus better assisting patients in breathing. The airbag features a multi-layered design with a large expansion ratio. Its thickness is 2mm when deflated and reaches 17cm when inflated. It can withstand a maximum pressure of 200Kpa, providing high safety. Made of TPU material, it exhibits good biocompatibility and excellent physical and mechanical properties, effectively withstanding the pressure and deformation generated during use and maintaining its physical properties over a wide temperature range.

[0038] The sensor unit comprises four parts: a respiratory flow meter, a barometric pressure sensor, a pressure sensor, and a flexible stretch sensor, connected to the main control unit via an analog-to-digital converter. The respiratory flow meter collects the user's respiratory flow information; the barometric pressure sensor monitors the internal air pressure of the soft compression module; the pressure sensor monitors the contact force between the soft compression module and the human body; and the flexible stretch sensor collects changes in chest and abdominal circumference during respiration. The barometric pressure sensor is connected to the airbag via tubing, and the flexible pressure sensor is placed on the surface of the soft compression module where it contacts the human body. The respiratory flow sensor is worn by the user and placed over the mouth and nose, while the stretch sensor surrounds the chest and abdomen.

[0039] The main control unit, composed of an STM32H730 system, collects data through sensor modules and outputs control signals to control the flow proportional valve to inflate and deflate the soft-press module, ensuring normal operation. Data from the flow sensor is acquired via the IIC communication protocol, and data from the tension sensor is acquired via the UART serial port. These two components work together to divide the respiratory phase and indirectly obtain information such as tidal volume, peak flow rate, and respiratory time. Data from the membrane pressure sensor is acquired via the UART serial port as an interactive force to plan the target air pressure value. An SPI communication connection to an analog-to-digital converter obtains air pressure data from the pressure sensor, using the air pressure value as feedback to precisely control the air pressure within the airbag. The output value is calculated based on the actual value and the feedback value, and the opening of the flow proportional valve is controlled in PWM mode.

[0040] Figure 3 This is a comparison diagram of the hysteresis of the flow proportional valve of this utility model with and without PWM control.

[0041] The main function of the optocoupler relay is to receive the PWM control signal from the main controller and apply it to the flow proportional valve, converting the current control of the flow proportional valve into PWM control, thereby greatly improving control accuracy and avoiding errors caused by current control. As can be seen from the comparison chart, the hysteresis of the flow proportional valve under PWM control is half that without PWM control.

[0042] The silent air pump serves as the air source for the entire system, featuring low noise and high air pressure. It is connected to a flow proportional valve via a 10*6.5mm pipe and then to the soft pressing module. Simultaneously, the solenoid valve is also connected to the wearable device via a pipe to deflate the airbag during the inhalation phase.

[0043] The battery pack consists of a lithium battery and a matching voltage regulator module. The lithium battery pack outputs a voltage of 24V, which is converted to 3.3V, 5V, 12V and 24V by different voltage regulator modules to power the main controller, flow proportional valve, solenoid valve and sensor unit.

[0044] During system operation, the main controller connects to the respiratory flow meter via the IIC communication protocol to collect human respiratory data. Based on the respiratory flow rate, it determines parameters such as respiratory phase, expiratory volume, inspiratory volume, and respiratory time. A flexible stretch sensor, fixed to the chest, is also included to supplement the respiratory phase assessment. Together, these two sensors determine the respiratory phase and other information. During exhalation, the controller uses PWM to control the opening of the flow proportional valve. Based on information from the air pressure sensor and pressure sensor, it controls the valve opening to ensure the air pressure in the airbag reaches a specified value. The air pressure sensor, which transmits analog signals, connects to the microcontroller via an analog-to-digital converter using the SPI communication protocol. The pressure sensor connects to the microcontroller via a serial port. During inhalation, an optocoupler relay controls the opening of the solenoid valve to expel gas from the airbag. The system uses chest and abdominal compressions, as well as multi-pathway compressions to simulate rehabilitation physician techniques. It can correct the patient's breathing rhythm at a fixed frequency and suppress incorrect chest breathing. It can also assist the patient's breathing rate by adjusting the compressions or by applying gentle pressure during the breathing phase to train the patient's respiratory muscles and assist the patient's breathing to the maximum extent to aid in recovery. Thus, it achieves three breathing assistance modes: correction, assistance, and training.

Claims

1. A soft breathing assistance system, characterized by include: The system includes a soft-press module, a solenoid valve, a sensor unit, a flow proportional valve, a silent air pump, an optocoupler relay, an analog-to-digital converter, a main controller, a battery pack, and a host computer. The silent air pump, flow proportional valve, soft pressing module, and solenoid valve are connected sequentially via air pipes. The soft pressing module is connected to the sensor unit, which is connected to the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter. The main controller is also connected to the flow proportional valve via an optocoupler relay. The host computer is connected to the main controller, and the battery pack is connected to the main controller, flow proportional valve, solenoid valve, and sensor unit, respectively.

2. The soft body respiratory assistance system of claim 1, wherein, The sensor unit includes: a respiratory flow meter, a barometric pressure sensor, a pressure sensor, and a flexible tensile sensor, wherein: The respiratory flow meter is installed at the mouth and nose of the human body; The flexible stretch sensor is wrapped around the human chest and abdomen; The pressure sensor is connected to the air bladder of the soft compression module via a tubing. The flexible stretch sensor is positioned between the soft pressing module and the human body, attached to the surface of the soft pressing module and in direct contact with the human body; The respiratory flow meter, air pressure sensor, pressure sensor, and flexible tensile sensor are connected to the analog-to-digital converter via data cables.

3. The soft respiratory assist system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The soft compression module includes an airbag, an air tube, a detachable vest, and Velcro, wherein: The airbags are fixed to the detachable vest in an array. The vest has four airbags symmetrically arranged on the chest for pressing the lower chest, and they are divided into two branches: two closer to the center line of the vest and two further away from the center line. The vest's abdomen is divided into three areas: left, middle, and right, with a total of five airbags, and they are divided into two branches: three in the middle area for pressing the middle part of the abdomen, and two in the left and right side areas for pressing the sides of the abdomen. Each airbag is connected to a flow proportional valve via an air tube, and airbags on the same branch share a single air tube. The vest's shoulders and sides are designed to be separate and connected with Velcro.

4. The soft body respiratory assistance system of claim 3, wherein, The airbag is made of TPU material and has a multi-layer design. Its thickness is 2mm when it is not inflated and up to 17cm when it is inflated.

5. The soft breathing assistance system of claim 2, wherein, The respiratory flow meter is connected to the IIC communication interface of the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter.

6. The soft breathing assistance system of claim 2, wherein, The pressure sensor is connected to the SPI communication interface of the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter.

7. The soft breathing assistance system of claim 2, wherein, The pressure sensor is connected to the UART serial port of the main controller via an analog-to-digital converter.

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