Adaptive Ventilator Control for Multiple Sleep Apnea Types
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilators are inadequate in addressing various types of sleep apnea, including obstructive, central, and mixed apnea, often causing respiratory damage and are not adaptable to changing sleep apnea types, leading to issues like ventilator dependence and respiratory muscle fatigue.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator control method that identifies the current respiration type in real time using physiological signal features, switching between continuous-positive-airway-pressure and pulse operation modes to address different apnea types, preventing respiratory damage by controlling the servo valve and air supply apparatus based on learned signal features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cpap machine continuously delivers constant pressure, then airway patency is maintained, but patient feels suffocated and respiratory muscles experience fatigue and barotrauma
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator switches between continuous positive airway pressure mode and pulse mode periodically based on detected respiratory patterns. During pulse mode, air supply is interrupted during exhalation phases, creating periodic cycles of pressure application and release that prevent continuous suffocation sensation while maintaining airway patency during critical phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts between different ventilation modes (continuous pressure vs. pulse mode) based on real-time detection of respiratory patterns and apnea types. This dynamic adaptation allows the ventilator to optimize airway support while minimizing harmful effects on respiratory muscles.
2Reliability
If bipap or auto-bipap machine delivers two different pressures for inhalation and exhalation, then central and mixed sleep apnea are treated, but cost increases and ventilator dependence occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator is designed to handle multiple apnea types (obstructive, central, mixed) using a single device that can switch between continuous pressure mode and pulse mode. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cpap and bipap machines, reducing overall system complexity and cost while treating all apnea types effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect respiratory patterns and automatically identifies apnea types, then adjusts ventilation mode accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the single ventilator to adaptively treat different apnea types without requiring manual intervention or multiple specialized devices.
3Reliability
If conventional ventilators are used for long term, then sleep apnea symptoms are addressed, but respiratory muscle function deteriorates due to ventilator dependence
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic pulse mode where air supply is interrupted during exhalation phases, the ventilator allows respiratory muscles to work periodically without continuous support. This periodic disengagement prevents muscle atrophy and ventilator dependence while still providing necessary support during apnea events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure delivery parameter from continuous constant pressure to periodic pulsed pressure based on detected respiratory needs. This parameter change enables the ventilator to provide support when needed while allowing muscle function to be maintained through periodic self-effort by the patient.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a ventilator control method a signal sensing module acquires a physiological signal feature of a user, a calibration and learning module learns the physiological signal feature of the user and outputs a drive signal after learning, and a main control module controls the operation efficiency of an air supply apparatus and opening and closing of a servo valve of a first servo valve box according to the drive signal, thus forming different operation modes. A ventilator performing the control method is provided. The present invention resolves the problem that the conventional ventilator is not compatible with the sleep apnea type of the user, and the problem that a single operation mode damages a patient's respiratory function. In the present invention, one ventilator is used to safely resolve various types of sleep apnea problems, greatly reducing costs of various types of ventilators purchased for the users.