Anesthesia Interface Device With Connection Valve for Vaporizer Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anesthesia vaporizers are cumbersome and prone to simultaneous activation issues, leading to doubled anesthesia effects, and lack electronic controls for efficient operation and diagnostics, posing challenges in managing vaporizer failures and leaks during anesthesia delivery.
Innovation Solution
An interface device with detachable sockets and a connection valve system that allows for controlled gas flow communication between ports, enabling safe isolation and automatic testing of vaporizers, and an apparatus with a storage volume for anesthetic agents and an actuator for remote control of gas flow, minimizing the risk of occlusion and facilitating ergonomic design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional vaporizers are used in anesthesia system, then anesthetic agent can be delivered to patient, but the devices are heavy and positioned at elevated location making installation laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The vaporizer is divided into two separate components: a heavy vaporization unit containing the anesthetic agent and thermal energy, and a lightweight interface device that connects to the anesthesia system. The interface device includes connection valves and gas flow pathways, while the vaporizer unit can be detached and repositioned. This segmentation allows the heavy component to be handled separately from the system integration points, reducing installation labor while maintaining reliable anesthetic delivery.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two vaporizers are active in anesthesia system, then functional redundancy is provided, but both vaporizers would deliver anesthetic agent causing doubled strength of anesthesia effect which is dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device acts as an intermediary between the anesthesia system and the vaporizer. It includes a connection valve that controls gas flow to and from the vaporizer, and can isolate the vaporizer from the pneumatic circuitry. This intermediary mechanism ensures that even if multiple vaporizers are connected, only one can be active at a time, preventing dangerous doubled anesthesia effects while maintaining the ability to switch between vaporizers for redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device incorporates feedback mechanisms through its connection valve system that monitors and controls the state of vaporizer connection and gas flow. The valve can detect when a vaporizer is connected and automatically configure the gas flow pathways to enable or disable specific vaporizers, providing automated control that prevents simultaneous activation of multiple vaporizers.
3Reliability
If vaporizer connection is tested by pressurizing the circuit, then leak identification is enabled, but the site for observed leak is difficult to identify in the middle of delivering anesthesia
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device incorporates localized test ports and segmented gas flow pathways that allow isolation of different connection points. When performing leak testing, the connection valve can direct pressurization to specific segments of the circuit, and the localized test ports enable identification of which specific connection point (vaporizer socket, gas inlet, gas outlet) has the leak, making location identification straightforward during anesthesia delivery.
4Reliability
If valves are positioned at vaporizer inlet and outlet connectors for isolation, then vaporizer can be isolated from pneumatic circuitry, but fresh gas occlusion may occur if one valve fails to open properly
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device merges the inlet and outlet valve functions into a single integrated connection valve mechanism. This unified valve controls both gas flow directions (to and from the vaporizer) through a single actuation point, eliminating the risk of fresh gas occlusion that could occur if separate inlet or outlet valves fail to open properly. The merged design maintains reliable vaporizer isolation while ensuring continuous gas flow pathways.
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 solution ensures safe and efficient anesthesia delivery by preventing simultaneous vaporizer activation, allowing for automatic testing and remote control of gas flow, reducing the risk of occlusion, and enabling ergonomic design, thus improving operational safety and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a connection valve for the at least one socket. The interface device also includes at least four ports in flow communication with the connection valve
Implementation Method 2
an apparatus for supplying anesthetic agent to the interface device... a space for vaporizing the liquid anesthetic agent
Implementation Method 3
an actuator for connecting the fresh gas flow through the gas inlet port and the gas outlet port and disconnecting this flow when required
Data Source
AI summary
An interface device for supplying a gas flow for breathing is disclosed herein. The device includes at least one socket for detachably connecting an apparatus for supplying anesthetic agent, at least one gas output opening for delivering the fresh gas to the apparatus, and at least one gas input opening for receiving the fresh gas mixed with anesthetic agent. The device also includes a connection valve and at least four ports in flow communication with the valve, a first port receiving the gas, a second port providing a communication with the output opening, a third port providing a communication with the input opening, and a fourth port providing a communication for breathing, the valve having a first operational state disconnecting communication between the first and second port, and to second operational state providing communication between the first and second port, but also between the third and fourth port.