Breathing Assistance Controller for Respiratory Failure Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current breathing assistance devices are not proactive in predicting and preventing respiratory distress, relying on manual adjustments and lacking real-time monitoring of respiratory system mechanics, which can lead to delayed detection and increased user harm.

Innovation Solution

A controller system that uses sensor data and polysomnography (PSG) signals to generate a respiratory index value, predicting respiratory failure by analyzing airflow parameters, reactance, resistance, and impedance through Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT), and adjusting the breathing assistance device settings in real-time to prevent distress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual adjustments and retroactive monitoring are used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability and responsiveness to respiratory failure deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors respiratory mechanics (reactance, resistance, impedance) and uses this feedback to automatically adjust ventilator settings in real-time, improving detection reliability without requiring complex manual intervention systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment systems with automated electronic sensing and control systems that continuously measure respiratory parameters and adjust settings automatically, reducing the need for complex manual monitoring procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Speed

If real-time monitoring of respiratory mechanics is implemented, then responsiveness to respiratory failure is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidrespiratory parameter measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an intermediary processing layer that aggregates and analyzes multiple respiratory parameters (reactance, resistance, impedance) to generate a comprehensive respiratory status index, reducing the precision requirements for individual measurements while maintaining rapid response capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms raw respiratory measurements into normalized indices and scores that can be rapidly compared against thresholds, enabling fast response decisions without requiring extremely precise individual parameter measurements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If proactive prediction of respiratory failure is implemented, then user harm is reduced, but loss of time for data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser harmVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of respiratory trends and predicts potential failures before they occur by analyzing patterns in reactance, resistance, and impedance data, enabling proactive intervention to prevent harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous real-time monitoring and analysis of respiratory mechanics throughout the entire monitoring period, ensuring that no potential failure signal is missed while maintaining efficient processing through continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Enables proactive adjustment of breathing assistance devices to prevent respiratory failure, reducing user distress and improving respiratory health by providing timely interventions based on real-time monitoring of respiratory mechanics.

Implementation Method 1

generating a respiratory index value from the first and second index values or determining the respiratory index value based on a relative power spectral density between a current time period and a baseline period for a physiological respiratory signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced Oscillation Technique:

Data Source

PatentUS11633560B2Method and apparatus for continuous management of airway pressure for detection and/or prediction of respiratory failure

Publication Date: 2023.04.25 NOVARESP TECH INC

AI summary

Various embodiments are described herein for a controller for controlling the operation of a breathing assistance device that provides breathing assistance to a user. The controller comprises a processor that generates a respiratory index value that is determined during a current monitoring time period to detect a respiratory failure, or predict the respiratory failure when at least one PSG signal is measured. The respiratory index value is compared to a threshold to determine if the control signal needs to be updated to reduce or eliminate respiratory failure that the user is currently experiencing or to prevent a predicted respiratory failure from occurring.