Active Humidification Device with Flow-Synchronized Nebulizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient breathing circuit humidification systems fail to maintain optimal air temperature and humidity levels, as passive humidifiers only reflect exhaled heat and moisture, while active systems are needed to achieve desired inhalation conditions of 37°C and 44mg/l.
Innovation Solution
An active humidification device with a housing, air conditioning chamber, heater, temperature and humidity sensor, air flow sensor, and a humidity generator controlled by a controller to regulate humidity and temperature, featuring an electro-resistive heater and a piezo electric mesh nebulizer to deliver precise humidity levels during inhalation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a passive humidifier (HME or sedation device) is used in the patient breathing circuit, then the device structure is simple and requires no active power, but it cannot maintain optimal air temperature and humidity levels (only reflects exhaled heat and moisture at approximately 32°C and 33mg/l, below the desired 37°C and 44mg/l)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated housing: the air conditioning chamber, heater, humidity generator, and sensors are merged into one device that interfaces with the breathing circuit. This integration achieves optimal temperature and humidity control (37°C and 44mg/l) while managing system complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural enclosure, an air conditioning chamber for temperature control, a mounting platform for the heater and humidity generator, and a housing for sensors. This multi-functionality enables comprehensive environmental control while avoiding the need for separate devices.
2Reliability
If an active humidification device is used to achieve optimal air conditions (37°C and 44mg/l), then the air temperature and humidity can be maintained at desired levels, but the device complexity increases with multiple components including heater, humidity generator, and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature and humidity sensors that continuously monitor the air conditions within the air conditioning chamber. These sensors provide feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts the heater and humidity generator to maintain reliable optimal conditions (37°C and 44mg/l), ensuring consistent performance despite the increased device complexity.
3Reliability
If the nebulizer operates continuously to maintain humidity, then the desired humidity level can be maintained, but the nebulizer may become clogged and operational reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an air flow sensor to detect patient inhalation and triggers the nebulizer to operate only during inhalation phases. This periodic operation synchronized with patient breathing maintains the required humidity levels while preventing continuous operation that would lead to clogging, thereby improving nebulizer reliability and operational efficiency.
4Power
If the heater element is exposed directly to the air conditioning chamber, then heating efficiency is maximized, but the housing may overheat and create harmful thermal effects on the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an insulating layer as an intermediary between the heater element and the housing. This insulating layer allows the heater to operate at high power for efficient heating while preventing excessive heat transfer to the housing and patient interface, thereby eliminating thermal harm while maintaining heating efficiency.
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 device effectively maintains air at pre-set temperature and humidity levels, ensuring optimal breathing conditions for patients by synchronizing nebulizer operation with inhalation and adjusting moisture output based on air flow rate, preventing clogging and maintaining desired humidity and temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a heater mounted within the air conditioning chamber... the heater comprises an electro-resistive heater element
Implementation Method 2
the humidity generator comprises a piezo electric mesh nebulizer
Data Source
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AI summary
An active humidification device (1) is for mounting in a patient breathing circuit, which typically includes a ventilator connected by a Y-piece with an elongate patient breathing tube for a patient, a sedation device may be mounted in the patient breathing tube between the ventilator and the patient to passively reflect heat and moisture to the patient as the patient breathes. The active humidification device (1) of this invention is mounted in the patient breathing tube between the sedation device and the patient, and is operable to maintain breathing air delivered to the patient at a pre-set desired temperature and humidity. The active humidification device (1) comprises a housing (11) having an air conditioning chamber (12) extending through the housing (11) between a first connector port (14), for connection via the patient breathing tube with the ventilator, and a second connector port (15), for connection via the patient breathing tube with the patient in use. A heater (16) is mounted within the air conditioning chamber (12) and a temperature and humidity sensor (17) is mounted at a top of the air conditioning chamber (12). Also mounted within the air conditioning chamber (12) is an air flow sensor (18) which is operable to measure air flow rate and the direction of air flowing through the air conditioning chamber (12). A humidity generator such as a nebuliser (20) is mounted on the housing (11) and has a water vapour outlet communicating with the air conditioning chamber (12). A controller (22) is operably connected to the heater (16), the temperature and humidity sensor (17), the air flow sensor (18) and the nebuliser (20) for controlling operation of the active humidification device (1) to maintain air delivered from the active humidification device (1) to the patient in use at the pre-set desired temperature and relative humidity.