Breathing Apparatus Integrated Disinfection Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breathing assistance apparatuses used for delivering humidified gases to patients are difficult to disinfect, especially the internal tubing and patient interfaces, which limits their reuse across multiple patients, particularly in hospital settings.
Innovation Solution
A breathing assistance apparatus with integrated disinfection conduits and a controller that supplies power to heating elements, allowing for the circulation of heated gases through the system to achieve high-temperature disinfection, effectively reducing microbial contamination and extending the lifespan of the apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the apparatus uses integrated heating elements and circulation systems for disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the disinfection heating elements, gas circulation system, and patient interface into an integrated apparatus. The controller coordinates these components to circulate heated gas through the breathing circuit and patient interface, achieving effective disinfection while maintaining a unified device structure rather than separate standalone components.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements serve dual purposes: they provide thermal therapy to the patient during normal operation and enable high-temperature disinfection of the apparatus when activated by the controller. The gas circulation system similarly functions for both patient delivery and disinfection cycles, reducing the need for separate dedicated components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the apparatus enables high-temperature disinfection of internal components, then microbial contamination is reduced, but the risk of damaging sensitive parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller manages disinfection cycles as periodic intermittent operations rather than continuous high-temperature exposure. The system activates heating elements to elevated temperatures for discrete disinfection periods, then returns to normal operating temperatures, allowing components to cool and preventing thermal degradation while still achieving effective microbial elimination during the periodic high-temperature phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts heating element temperature parameters based on the operational mode. During disinfection cycles, temperatures are elevated to disinfection levels, but during patient therapy, temperatures are maintained at therapeutic levels suitable for patient comfort and safety. This parameter modulation protects components from sustained high-temperature damage while enabling effective disinfection when needed.
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 apparatus achieves effective disinfection of the breathing circuit and patient interfaces, reducing microbial contamination and allowing for safe reuse across multiple patients, thereby improving hygiene and extending the apparatus's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a first disinfection conduit including a heating element, said first disinfection conduit adapted for connection between said gases supply outlet port and said patient outlet, a controller in said housing adapted to supply power to the heating elements of conduits connected to said breathing assistance apparatus
Implementation Method 2
said controller adapted to supply power to said first disinfection conduit when said first disinfection conduit is connected between said gases supply outlet port and said patient outlet so as to heat the flow of gases through said first disinfection conduit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a breathing assistance apparatus that has a convenient and effective method of cleaning internal conduits inside the apparatus. The breathing assistance apparatus is preferably a gases supply and humidification device. The cleaning method is a method of disinfection that is automated so minimal training is required to disinfect in particular an internal elbow conduit within the device. It is therefore not necessary to dismantle the gases supply and humidification device, therefore, inadvertent damage to the internal parts of the device is avoided. The present invention also provides a method of disinfecting a heated breathing conduit and a patient interface.