Anesthesia Gas Delivery via Bite Block and Dual Inlet Manifold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nasal cannula systems for oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide monitoring are unreliable, prone to dislodgment, cause skin irritation, and pose risks of surgical fires due to oxygen settling around the face, and are ineffective in capturing exhaled carbon dioxide from both nose and mouth, especially in patients with oral breathing habits.
Innovation Solution
A gas delivery and monitoring apparatus that delivers oxygen to the back of the mouth via a bite block and captures exhaled carbon dioxide from both nose and mouth using a dual inlet exhalation capture manifold connected to a capnograph, with separate conduits for inhalation and exhalation paths, allowing for secure and efficient gas exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nasal cannula is used to deliver oxygen and monitor carbon dioxide, then oxygen delivery is provided, but the cannula is insecure and often gets dislodged causing loss of carbon dioxide capture and inability to deliver oxygen
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a bite block for securing the device in the mouth, a mouthpiece for CO2 capture, and a nasal cannula for oxygen delivery. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively while the bite block provides secure anchoring independent of the monitoring components.
Solution Approach 2:
The bite block acts as an intermediary element that secures the entire monitoring system in the patient's mouth. By providing a stable anchor point that the patient bites down on, it mediates between the patient's voluntary actions (breathing, talking) and the monitoring device, preventing dislodgment without requiring complex locking mechanisms.
2Reliability
If nasal cannula is used for oxygen delivery, then oxygen is delivered to the patient, but it causes skin irritation, dermatitis or skin ulcers with long-term use
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen delivery function is extracted from the nasal cannula and redirected through the mouthpiece system. By taking the oxygen delivery away from the nasal area and delivering it through the mouth, the harmful skin irritation caused by prolonged nasal cannula contact is eliminated while oxygen delivery effectiveness is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of delivering oxygen through the nose as in traditional cannulas, this device inverts the approach by delivering oxygen through the mouth via the mouthpiece. This inversion changes the delivery route from nasal to oral, avoiding skin contact issues in the nasal area while maintaining effective oxygen delivery to the patient.
3Reliability
If nasal cannula is used with electrocautery, then oxygen delivery is provided, but oxygen acts as fuel for electrocautery sparks causing surgical fires
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen delivery is extracted from the immediate surgical field area and redirected through the mouthpiece system positioned away from the surgical site. By taking oxygen delivery away from the face and surgical area, the fuel source for potential electrocautery fires is removed while oxygen delivery to the patient continues uninterrupted.
Solution Approach 2:
The device converts the potential harm of oxygen accumulation around the face into a benefit by redirecting oxygen delivery through the mouthpiece system. This repositioning eliminates the fire hazard while maintaining effective oxygen delivery, turning a dangerous configuration into a safe one.
4Measurement precision
If dual inlet exhalation capture manifold is used to capture CO2 from both nose and mouth, then effective carbon dioxide monitoring is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the CO2 capture function for both nasal and oral breathing into a single integrated mouthpiece system. By combining the capture of exhaled gases from both pathways through one manifold structure, accurate CO2 monitoring is achieved without requiring separate complex monitoring systems for each breathing route.
Solution Approach 2:
The mouthpiece and manifold system serves multiple functions: it secures the device in the mouth, captures CO2 from both nasal and oral exhalations, and delivers oxygen. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, achieving accurate CO2 monitoring from both breathing routes without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations include a gas delivery and monitoring apparatus that can be used, for example, to deliver oxygen and monitor exhaled carbon dioxide in a subject while under anesthesia. One advantage of the disclosed apparatus is the ability to deliver oxygen directly to the back of the mouth instead of in front of the face. Another advantage of the disclosed apparatus over existing nasal cannulas is the ability to capture carbon dioxide exhaled from both the nose and mouth.