Adjustable Pressure Relief Valve for Lung Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ventilation systems face challenges in safely managing gaseous pressure during patient ventilation, particularly in preventing overpressure and ensuring pressure relief, especially in cases of equipment failure or patient-specific conditions, where standard pressure relief mechanisms may not adequately address the needs of all patients.
Innovation Solution
A valve system with an inlet and outlet port, a valve seat, and a valve member that can detach from the seat under pressure, assisted by a closing spring and an actuator that adjusts the closing force, allowing for intelligent pressure relief in a branching unit with multiple gas limbs, ensuring safe pressure management during both mechanical and manual ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard pressure relief valve is used to limit maximum breathing circuit pressure, then the pressure is limited to prevent overpressure, but the total pressure relief is not achieved and continuous relief is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is made movable between a closed position (seating on the valve seat) and an open position (detached from the valve seat), allowing the system to dynamically transition between pressure limitation mode and continuous pressure relief mode based on operational requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The closing force of the valve member is adjustable through the actuator, allowing the pressure threshold for automatic opening to be dynamically changed. This enables adaptation to different patient requirements and operational scenarios, providing both pressure limitation and continuous relief capabilities
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the safety pressure relief valve is set to a low relief limit for small patients, then overpressure is prevented, but adequate relief is not provided for obese and lung-sick patients
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator enables dynamic adjustment of the valve member's closing force, allowing the pressure relief threshold to be changed according to patient size and condition. This provides adaptability across different patient populations while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system serves multiple functions: it acts as a pressure limitation valve for small patients, a pressure relief valve for obese and lung-sick patients, and a continuous relief valve when needed. The adjustable closing force allows one device to handle diverse clinical scenarios
3Ease of operation
If the safety pressure relief valve remains closed to allow manual ventilation during power failure, then manual ventilation continues, but pressure buildup may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member can dynamically switch between closed and open positions. During normal operation with power supply, it closes to allow manual ventilation. On power failure or overpressure conditions, it automatically opens to provide pressure relief, dynamically adapting to operational requirements
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 valve system effectively relieves excessive pressure in the breathing circuit, preventing lung damage and cardiologic complications by actively managing pressure within safe limits, even in failure scenarios, while allowing for continued manual ventilation by maintaining passive closure during power failures.
Implementation Method 1
a closing spring for directing a predetermined closing force to the valve member allowing the valve member to detach from the valve seat when a force due to the gaseous pressure exerted on the valve member from the inlet port exceeds the predetermined closing force of the closing spring
Implementation Method 2
a valve member which is forced against the valve seat to close a gas discharge between the inlet port and the outlet port
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A valve for relieving a gaseous pressure of a branching unit being in flow communication with lungs of a subject is disclosed herein. The valve includes an inlet port (101) in flow communication with the branching unit and an outlet port (102) for discharging a gas flow from the inlet port to release the pressure. The valve also includes a valve seat (103) in flow communication with the inlet port, a valve member (104) which is forced against the valve seat to close a gas discharge and which member can be detached from the valve seat to facilitate gas discharge and a closing spring (105) for directing a predetermined closing force to the valve member (104). The valve also includes an actuator (107) being able to increase and decrease the closing force to the valve member. A corresponding method and arrangement for ventilating lungs of a subject is also provided. (FIG. 2)