Breathing Conduit Piercing Assembly for Condensation Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Breathing conduits in respiratory apparatuses face issues with condensation leading to liquid accumulation, which obstructs airflow and can be harmful if substances like anaesthetics are released into the environment.

Innovation Solution

An assembly with a piercing portion and a body portion that allows controlled access to the interior volume of a breathing conduit, enabling the evacuation or addition of substances while maintaining a sealed connection to prevent pressure reduction and substance discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a water trap is used to trap accumulated liquid in the breathing conduit, then liquid accumulation is prevented, but the device complexity, weight, and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid accumulation preventionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the liquid removal function from a separate water trap device and integrates it into the breathing conduit itself by creating a piercing opening that allows liquid to be drained directly from the conduit interior to the exterior, eliminating the need for additional trapping components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The piercing opening acts as an intermediary pathway between the interior volume of the breathing conduit and the exterior environment, enabling liquid to be removed without disconnecting the entire conduit or using complex trapping mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the breathing conduit is disconnected to drain accumulated liquid, then liquid obstruction is removed, but an open connection causes pressure reduction and substance discharge into the environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid obstruction removalVSAvoidsubstance discharge into environment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the liquid drainage function from the breathing conduit system by creating a separate piercing opening, allowing liquid to be removed while the main conduit connection remains intact and sealed, preventing substance discharge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The piercing opening provides a localized drainage pathway at a specific position on the breathing conduit, allowing liquid removal without affecting the overall sealed connection and pressure maintenance of the entire breathing circuit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If a water trap is filled with liquid, it needs to be emptied which causes an open connection between the interior volume and surrounding environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid trapping functionVSAvoidopen connection during emptying

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the liquid drainage function to a simple piercing opening that allows direct drainage from the breathing conduit interior to exterior, eliminating the need for a fillable water trap that would require emptying and cause open connections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The piercing opening provides continuous passive drainage capability where liquid can be removed by simple external access without needing to empty a trapped reservoir, maintaining sealed connection throughout the process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 assembly provides quick, safe, and simple access to the interior volume of breathing conduits, reducing the risk of pressure reduction and substance discharge, while allowing for efficient liquid evacuation and substance addition.

Implementation Method 1

The piercing portion (9) is configured to pierce through a wall (11) of the breathing conduit (5) to make an opening (13) there through

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The assembly (1) further comprises a sealing (17) configured to seal an area between the opening (13) and the body portion (10)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 3

The body portion (10) comprises a channel (15) configured to provide fluid access to the interior volume (3)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid Flow:

Data Source

PatentUS12201775B2Piercing assembly and breathing conduit kit

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 MAQUET CRITICAL CARE

AI summary

An assembly is configured to provide access to an interior volume of a breathing conduit. The assembly includes a piercing portion and a body portion. The piercing portion is configured to pierce through a wall of the breathing conduit to make an opening there through. The piercing portion is configured to be inserted through the opening, into the interior volume. The body portion includes a channel configured to provide fluid access to the interior volume. The assembly also includes a sealing configured to seal an area between the opening and the body portion. A breathing conduit kit includes a breathing conduit and an assembly.