Breathing-Synchronized Gas Delivery Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
During medical procedures, patients often experience respiratory function loss due to anesthesia or sedation, leading to oxygen saturation declines, particularly during difficult intubation processes, which can be time-consuming and risky, with existing methods failing to effectively manage gas delivery to prevent lung collapses and maintain oxygen levels.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for controlling gas delivery to patients using a gas line, reservoir, and controller that synchronizes gas flow with patient breathing phases, diverting gas to a reservoir during expiration and delivering it to the patient during inspiration, utilizing high flow rates and supplementary gases like oxygen, helium, or nitrous oxide to prevent atelectasis and maintain lung recruitment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous gas delivery is provided to maintain oxygen saturation during difficult intubation, then patient oxygenation is improved, but gas waste increases and duration of procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system delivers gas periodically synchronized with patient breathing phases rather than continuously. Gas is delivered during inspiration when the patient needs oxygenation and diverted to reservoir during expiration when the patient does not need gas, reducing waste while maintaining effective oxygenation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous useful action by storing gas in the reservoir during expiration and releasing it during inspiration, maintaining continuous gas availability for the patient without continuous delivery from the source, thus eliminating waste while preserving effectiveness.
2Reliability
If high flow rates are delivered continuously to prevent lung collapse, then lung recruitment is improved, but gas consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
High flow rates are delivered periodically during inspiration when lung recruitment is needed, rather than continuously. During expiration, flow is reduced or stopped and gas is stored in the reservoir, reducing overall gas consumption while maintaining effective lung recruitment during the critical inspiration phase.
Solution Approach 2:
Gas is stored in the reservoir during expiration (preliminary action) so that high flow can be delivered during inspiration without requiring continuous supply, allowing lung recruitment to be maintained while reducing overall gas consumption through advance preparation.
3Reliability
If face mask reapplication is performed multiple times during difficult intubation, then oxygen saturation is maintained, but time required increases and patient risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
Gas is pre-stored in the reservoir during expiration phases, providing a ready supply that can be immediately delivered during inspiration without requiring interruption for face mask reapplication, thus reducing intubation time while maintaining oxygen saturation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous gas delivery synchronized with patient breathing throughout the intubation process, eliminating the need to interrupt for face mask reapplication and maintaining continuous oxygenation without time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to, among other embodiments, methods and apparatus/systems for controlling gases delivery to a patient, such as via a patient interface. Such methods comprising receiving an input relating to either a patient's breathing phase and/or another patient parameter, controlling a flow of gases to be delivered to the patient and the inclusion in said flow of gases of a supplementary gas, wherein the amount of supplementary gas provided to the patient is substantially synchronized with respect to the patient's breathing phase and/or another patient parameter.