Breathing Assistance System Speech Detection Tracheostomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tracheostomized patients undergoing ventilation face challenges in speaking intelligibly due to the diversion of exhaled air through the tracheostomy tube, which impairs vocal cord airflow, and existing solutions often require conscious patient intervention or are permanent, contradicting the purpose of tracheostomy.
Innovation Solution
A breathing assistance system equipped with a throat microphone sensor that detects vocal cord vibrations to conditionally modify airflow, facilitating exhaled air to flow through the upper airway during speech attempts, thereby improving speech quality without requiring patient intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tracheostomy tube is used for ventilation, then ventilation support is provided to the patient, but exhaled air is diverted through the tube instead of the upper airway, impairing speech quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the exhalation valve state based on real-time voice activity detection. When speech is detected via the throat microphone sensor, the system closes the exhalation valve to redirect air through the upper airway, enabling speech. When no speech is detected, the valve opens to allow normal exhalation through the tracheostomy tube, maintaining ventilation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a throat microphone sensor to detect vocal cord vibrations and generate vibration signals. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically detect when the patient intends to speak and adjust the exhalation valve accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to patient needs without requiring conscious intervention.
2Ease of operation
If existing solutions are used to improve speech, then speech quality may be improved, but they require conscious patient intervention or are permanent, contradicting the purpose of tracheostomy
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting speech intent through the throat microphone sensor and autonomously adjusting the exhalation valve state. This eliminates the need for patient intervention or complex manual control mechanisms, allowing the system to adapt to speech needs automatically while maintaining the simplicity and purpose of tracheostomy.
3Productivity
If exhaled air flows through the tracheostomy tube, then ventilation efficiency is maintained, but vocal cord airflow is impaired, reducing speech intelligibility
Solution Approach 1:
The exhalation valve dynamically switches between open and closed states based on detected speech activity. During normal breathing, the valve remains open to maintain efficient ventilation through the tracheostomy tube. When speech is detected, the valve closes to redirect exhaled air through the upper airway and vocal cords, preserving speech intelligibility without permanently compromising ventilation efficiency.
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 system enhances speech intelligibility for tracheostomized patients by ensuring a significant portion of exhaled air flows through the upper airway, improving communication without altering the patient's behavior or requiring additional interaction, thus increasing quality of life.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to generate a vibration signal representing vocal cord vibrations of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a breathing assistance system (10) comprising: a ventilator (12), a breathing lumen (14) arranged to communicate a flow of air between the ventilator and a tracheostomy tube (16) in the trachea of a patient, and a sensor (24) configured to generate a vibration signal representing vocal cord vibrations of the patient. The system is configured to facilitate the flow of exhaled air to the atmosphere via the upper airway of the patient in response to detection in the vibration signal of speech or attempted speech by the patient.