Bi-directional Flow Sensor for Nitric Oxide Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Delivering accurate and precise doses of nitric oxide to patients using ventilator-associated breathing circuits is challenging due to inconsistent and unknown flow profiles, leading to potential overdosing or underdosing, which affects safety and efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A bi-directional breathing circuit gas flow sensor is integrated into the nitric oxide delivery system to measure both forward and reverse flows, enabling precise control of nitric oxide delivery by compensating for reverse flow and ensuring accurate dosing through algorithms that adjust delivery based on measured flow patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If nitric oxide is injected into breathing gas with unknown flow profiles, then nitric oxide can be delivered to patients, but accurate and precise dosing cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a bi-directional flow sensor to continuously monitor breathing gas flow and provides real-time feedback to the control module. This feedback enables the system to dynamically adjust nitric oxide delivery based on actual flow conditions, ensuring accurate dosing despite variable breathing patterns and ventilator types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical flow measurement methods with electronic flow sensing and digital signal processing. The bi-directional flow sensor uses electronic detection to measure gas flow in both directions, and the control module uses algorithms to process this data and adjust delivery accordingly, improving measurement precision and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If nitric oxide is delivered based on assumed constant flow, then delivery is simplified, but reverse flow causes overdosing or underdosing
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, assumption-based delivery control to dynamic, real-time control. The bi-directional flow sensor continuously monitors actual gas flow conditions, and the control module dynamically adjusts nitric oxide delivery based on measured forward and reverse flow patterns, maintaining both simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of delivery control by incorporating real-time flow measurement data. Instead of relying on fixed delivery rates, the system continuously adapts delivery parameters based on actual breathing circuit gas flow conditions, including detection and compensation of reverse flow events.
3Quantity of substance
If bi-directional flow measurement is implemented, then dosing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bi-directional flow sensor serves multiple functions: it measures forward flow, detects reverse flow, provides real-time feedback, and enables various delivery control strategies. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensors and control mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved dosing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to systems and method for delivery of therapeutic gas to patients in need thereof using enhanced breathing circuit gas (BCG) flow measurement. At least some of these enhanced BCG flow measurements can be used to address some surprising phenomena that may, at times, occur when wild stream blending therapeutic gas into breathing gas that a patient receives from a breathing circuit affiliated with a ventilator. Utilizing at least some of these enhanced BCG flow measurements the dose of therapeutic gas wild stream blended into breathing gas that the patient receives from a ventilator can at least be more accurate and/or over delivery of therapeutic gas into the breathing gas can be avoided and/or reduced.