Breathing Gas Concentration Detector with Overlapping Optical Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas concentration measurement devices for breathing gas mixtures face challenges with signal weakening due to beam mixing, leading to poor signal-to-noise ratios and increased complexity and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A compact device with a radiation source emitting light in the 2.5 μm to 14.0 μm wavelength range, using two detector arrays with bandpass filter elements and light transmission elements in a flow channel, which eliminates the need for beam mixing by creating a range of overlap between the measuring and reference channels, ensuring symmetric contamination compensation without signal weakening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam mixing is used to allow local contaminations to affect both reference and measuring channels symmetrically, then contamination compensation is improved, but signal weakening occurs due to multiple deflections and reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beam mixing function from the optical path by using separate reference and measuring channels that both pass through the same cuvette without mixing. The reference channel uses a reference gas (nitrogen) while the measuring channel detects the actual sample, allowing contamination compensation without signal weakening from multiple reflections.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system is segmented into separate reference and measuring channels instead of using a single mixed beam path. Each channel has its own detector and filter combination, allowing independent optimization of signal strength while maintaining symmetric contamination exposure through the shared cuvette environment.
2Measurement precision
If absorption length is increased to compensate for signal weakening, then measurement precision is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a modulation technique where the radiation source is modulated (turned on and off) and the detectors measure the modulated signal. This periodic action allows for signal amplification and noise reduction through synchronous detection, achieving high measurement precision without requiring long absorption paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the modulation frequency and detection timing to optimize signal-to-noise ratio. By using time-resolved detection of the modulated signal, the system achieves high precision measurements in a compact configuration without relying on long static absorption paths.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical components (filters, detectors, beam mixing elements) are used to achieve effective beam mixing, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses universal detector arrays that can detect multiple wavelengths simultaneously, and filter elements that can be selectively positioned in front of specific detectors. This multi-functional approach allows a single optical system to measure multiple gas components (CO2, N2O, anesthetics) without requiring separate dedicated detection paths for each gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the detection of multiple gas types into a single integrated system using detector arrays with wavelength-selective filters. Instead of separate detection systems for CO2, N2O, and anesthetics, all measurements are performed simultaneously through one optical path with multiple detectors, reducing overall system complexity.
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 achieves improved signal-to-noise ratio and reduced manufacturing costs while maintaining measurement accuracy and sensitivity, allowing for precise gas concentration determination with a compact and efficient design.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation source (30) suitable for and configured to radiate by means of a radiating surface a light emission in a wavelength range of lambda1 (λ1)=2,500 nm to lambda2 (λ2)=14,000 nm
Implementation Method 2
with two bandpass filter elements (51, 61) arranged at the detector elements (50, 60)
Implementation Method 3
two detector arrays with two detector elements (50, 60) configured suitably for detecting the light emission generated by the radiation source (30)
Implementation Method 4
The wavelength range of lambda1 (λ1)=2.5 μm to lambda2 (λ2)=14.0 μm of the radiation source makes possible an infrared optical measurement of laughing gas concentrations, carbon dioxide concentrations as well as different hydrocarbons
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1) for determining the concentration of a gas component is configured with a radiation source (30) for radiating (31) light as a light emission in an infrared wavelength range. Two detector arrays (52, 62) with two detector elements (50, 60) are configured suitably for detecting the light emission generated by the radiation source (30) in two detector arrays (52, 62). Two filter elements (51, 61) are associated with the detector elements (50, 60). The two detector elements (50, 60) are oriented in relation to the radiation source, so that a range of overlap (65) is obtained due to the two detector arrays (52, 62). The range of overlap (65) causes attenuations in the propagation of light, which may be due to gas molecules or moisture (400). The attenuations in the propagation of light affect both detector elements (50, 60) and are compensated concerning the determination of the concentration.