Breathing Therapy Auto-Adjust Algorithm Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art breathing therapy machines with auto-adjust features often overshoot the necessary pressure to eliminate events, leading to patient discomfort and frequent sleep disruptions due to aggressive pressure increases and slow pressure decreases.
Innovation Solution
An improved auto-adjust algorithm that aggressively raises pressure when events are detected, then quickly lowers it to a transition threshold before reducing pressure in smaller increments, elongating the cycle and reducing disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the auto-adjust feature quickly raises pressure in response to sensed events, then the events are eliminated or reduced, but the pressure remains at a higher level longer than necessary causing patient discomfort and sleep disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pressure adjustment by introducing two distinct pressure reduction rates: a first (faster) reduction rate applied when pressure is above the transition pressure, and a second (slower) reduction rate applied when pressure is at or below the transition pressure. This dynamic switching of reduction rates allows the system to quickly lower pressure from peak levels while preventing overshooting below the therapeutic threshold, thereby resolving the contradiction between effective event elimination and patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of pressure reduction rate based on the current pressure level relative to the transition pressure. By monitoring whether current pressure exceeds the transition pressure and adjusting the reduction rate accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between eliminating events effectively and minimizing patient discomfort from prolonged high pressure exposure.
2Ease of operation
If the pressure is reduced in constant intervals, then the cycle repeats frequently causing sleep disruptions, but reducing the pressure reduction rate extends the cycle and reduces disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic pressure adjustment by introducing two distinct pressure reduction rates: a first (faster) reduction rate applied when pressure is above the transition pressure, and a second (slower) reduction rate applied when pressure is at or below the transition pressure. This dynamic switching of reduction rates allows the system to quickly lower pressure from peak levels while preventing overshooting below the therapeutic threshold, thereby resolving the contradiction between effective event elimination and patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of pressure reduction rate based on the current pressure level relative to the transition pressure. By monitoring whether current pressure exceeds the transition pressure and adjusting the reduction rate accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between eliminating events effectively and minimizing patient discomfort from prolonged high pressure exposure.
Data Source
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AI summary
An improvement for existing breathing therapy machines which seeks the optimum therapy pressure using an auto-adjust algorithm.