Bi-directional Valve Ventilation Blockage Redundancy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilator systems fail to ensure continuous airflow to and from a patient in the event of a blockage in either the gas delivery path or the gas return path, leading to potential asphyxiation or oxygen deprivation injuries.

Innovation Solution

A ventilator system comprising an inhalation pathway with an ambient air inlet, a bi-directional emergency valve, and a dynamic blower, and an exhalation pathway with a bi-directional exhalation valve and an exhalation port, configured to allow airflow in both directions when a blockage occurs, ensuring continuous breathing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a check valve is used in the exhalation system to prevent gas flow from environment to patient, then unidirectional flow control is improved, but the patient cannot breathe ambient air during blockage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow control reliabilityVSAvoidbreathing adaptability during blockage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The exhalation valve is designed to be bi-directional rather than fixed unidirectional, allowing it to dynamically adapt its flow direction based on operational needs. During normal operation it prevents environmental air ingress, but during blockage it enables ambient air inhalation from the exhalation port, resolving the contradiction between flow control reliability and breathing adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The exhalation valve serves multiple functions: normally it prevents backflow from environment to patient, but during blockage conditions it enables the patient to inhale ambient air through the exhalation port. This multi-functionality allows the same component to address both flow control reliability and emergency breathing needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If a blockage detection alarm system is implemented, then blockage detection capability is improved, but patient safety deteriorates due to response time delay

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockage detection capabilityVSAvoidasphyxiation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures alternative breathing pathways (bi-directional exhalation valve and ambient air inlet) before blockage occurs. When blockage is detected, the patient can immediately use the pre-prepared emergency pathway without waiting for clinician intervention, thus maintaining detection capability while eliminating the harmful delay in patient protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The emergency breathing pathway acts as a pre-prepared safety cushion that activates automatically upon blockage detection. This beforehand preparation ensures that while the alarm system provides detection capability, the patient is simultaneously protected by the pre-configured alternative pathway, cushioning against the harmful effect of response time delay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If check valves are used in both inhalation and exhalation pathways to ensure unidirectional flow, then flow direction control is improved, but gas exchange is prevented during blockage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow direction controlVSAvoidgas exchange quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The exhalation valve transitions from a fixed unidirectional check valve to a dynamic bi-directional valve that can adapt its flow direction. During normal operation it maintains unidirectional flow control, but during blockage it enables bidirectional flow to permit gas exchange through the ambient air inlet, resolving the contradiction between flow control reliability and gas exchange quantity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4142839B1Anti-asphyxia design for mechanical ventilator

Publication Date: 2025.06.11 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

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AI summary

A ventilator system (200/300), comprising: an inhalation pathway comprising an ambient air inlet (208/308), a bi-directional emergency valve (214/314), and a dynamic blower (210/310); and an exhalation pathway (220/320) comprising a bi-directional exhalation valve (222/322) and an exhalation port (224/324); wherein when a blockage occurs in the inhalation pathway, ambient air can be drawn from the exhalation port and through the bi-directional exhalation valve, and during exhalation exhalant exits the ventilator through the bi-directional exhalation valve and the exhalation port; wherein when a blockage occurs in the exhalation pathway, inhalant is delivered by the dynamic blower, and during exhalation the dynamic blower lowers its speed or stops and the exhalant exits the ventilator through the bi-directional emergency valve, the dynamic blower, and the ambient air inlet.