Anesthetic Vaporizer Feedback Control for Precision Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for delivering anesthetic agents lack precise control over the concentration of vaporized anesthetic agents, leading to potential patient discomfort and safety risks due to inadequate or excessive agent delivery.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop feedback control system that includes an anesthetic agent reservoir, a pump, an injector, a vaporizer, and a controller, which measures the concentration of vaporized anesthetic agent and adjusts injector parameters such as frequency, duration, and pump pressure to maintain a commanded concentration, ensuring precise delivery and reducing agent waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional wick-based vaporization method is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but concentration control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback control mechanism where a sensor continuously measures the actual concentration of vaporized anesthetic agent in the gas stream, and the controller adjusts the pump speed and injector parameters to maintain the commanded concentration. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by enabling precise concentration control without requiring complex mechanical vaporization structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical wick-based vaporization system with a pump-driven liquid injection system combined with electronic feedback control. This substitution allows for more precise control of agent delivery through electronic means rather than relying on passive wick saturation and gas flow rate adjustments.
2Manufacturing precision
If pump pressure and injection frequency are increased to improve concentration control, then agent delivery precision improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts pump speed and injector parameters based on real-time feedback from the concentration sensor rather than operating at fixed high levels. This dynamic control allows the system to use only the necessary energy to achieve the commanded concentration, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller varies multiple parameters including pump speed, injection frequency, and injection duration to achieve optimal concentration control with minimal energy expenditure. By changing these parameters dynamically rather than maximizing them continuously, the system achieves precision without excessive energy consumption.
3Manufacturing precision
If reservoir is pressurized to improve agent delivery control, then delivery precision improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to refill complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the pressurization function from the reservoir by placing it in the pump system. The reservoir remains at atmospheric pressure and is refilled easily, while the pump provides the necessary pressurization for precise agent delivery through the injector. This extraction of the pressurization function resolves the contradiction between delivery precision and refill ease.
4Manufacturing precision
If closed-loop feedback control is implemented to improve concentration precision, then concentration control precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback control mechanism where a sensor continuously measures the actual concentration of vaporized anesthetic agent in the gas stream, and the controller adjusts the pump speed and injector parameters to maintain the commanded concentration. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by enabling precise concentration control without requiring complex mechanical vaporization structures.
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 system provides precise control over anesthetic agent delivery, reducing waste and ensuring a consistent concentration, thereby enhancing patient safety and comfort by automatically adjusting the amount of agent supplied based on real-time feedback.
Implementation Method 1
a vaporizer comprising a heated chamber configured to receive and vaporize the anesthetic agent injected by the injector
Implementation Method 2
an injector configured to receive pressurized anesthetic agent from the pump
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, a system includes an anesthetic agent reservoir, a pump fluidically coupled to the agent reservoir, an injector configured to receive pressurized anesthetic agent from the pump, a vaporizer comprising a heated chamber configured to receive and vaporize the anesthetic agent injected by the injector and supply a mix of the vaporized anesthetic agent and medical gas to a subject via a supply line, and a controller. The controller stores instructions executable to determine a concentration of the vaporized anesthetic agent in the mix and adjust one or more injector parameters based on a difference between the concentration of the vaporized anesthetic agent and a commanded concentration.