Portable Breathing Assistance Device with Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for COPD patients lack effective, portable, and user-friendly devices for breathing training and assistance, particularly in managing acute episodes of shortness of breath and promoting adherence to breathing exercises, which are crucial for disease management.
Innovation Solution
A portable breathing assistance or training device that senses user breathing characteristics and external data to tailor breathing exercises, providing personalized feedback and pressure support, and can deliver oxygen as needed, using a combination of sensors, a controller, and a gas canister for pressurized gas delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pulmonary rehabilitation programs are provided to COPD patients, then breathing exercise effectiveness is improved, but accessibility and adherence are worsened due to limited centers, cost, and time requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential breathing exercise functions from centralized pulmonary rehabilitation programs and delivers them through a portable home device, making the therapeutic benefits accessible without requiring patients to travel to limited rehabilitation centers
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables patients to perform breathing exercises independently at home with automated guidance, eliminating the need for professional supervision while maintaining exercise effectiveness and improving adherence through convenience
2Reliability
If breathing exercises are prescribed to COPD patients, then disease management is improved, but patient anxiety and lack of motivation are worsened due to inability to monitor progress
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates sensors that monitor breathing parameters in real-time and provide immediate feedback to patients, enabling them to track their progress, understand the effectiveness of their exercises, and maintain motivation through visible improvement data
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple functions (breathing exercise delivery, sensory monitoring, data processing, and feedback provision) into an integrated device that simultaneously addresses disease management and patient psychological needs
3Loss of energy
If COPD patients are discharged home after hospitalization, then healthcare cost is reduced, but patient anxiety and lack of support are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The portable device enables patients to independently access breathing therapy and monitoring at home, providing continuous support without requiring ongoing hospital resources or professional supervision
Solution Approach 2:
The device acts as an intermediary between hospital discharge and ongoing care, providing automated breathing assistance and monitoring that bridges the gap between intensive hospital treatment and routine home care
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 device enhances breathing training adherence, improves breathing performance, and provides immediate relief during acute episodes of shortness of breath, promoting active lifestyle and disease management by offering tailored exercises and oxygen support.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor arrangement for sensing breathing characteristics of a user
Implementation Method 2
a gas canister for pressurized gas delivery
Data Source
AI summary
A breathing training, monitoring and/or assistance device is provided for home use. The device is for providing support and guidance during the training of breathing exercises. The device takes account of external data which relates to one or more of: the environmental conditions in which the device is being used; activity information in respect of the user; physiological sensor data about the user which is not related to breathing characteristics.