Inflatable Buoyancy Device with Pressure and Oxygen Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing personal flotation devices do not effectively provide buoyancy in response to both water pressure and low blood oxygen levels, which can indicate drowning, leading to inadequate protection in emergency situations.

Innovation Solution

A device with a bladder that inflates in response to predetermined pressure levels and low blood oxygen concentration, using an actuator and oximeter to control fluid passage between the bladder and a vessel, ensuring timely buoyancy support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional flotation devices use foam core or pre-inflated air chambers, then buoyancy is continuously provided, but the device cannot respond specifically to drowning emergencies and may provide unnecessary buoyancy when not needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency response reliabilityVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device pre-positions a compressed gas vessel and inflation mechanism ready for rapid deployment. When the pressure-actuated plug mechanism is triggered by water pressure or low blood oxygen, the pre-compressed gas instantly inflates the bladder, providing immediate buoyancy without requiring manual intervention or complex electronic controls during the emergency moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex electronic sensors and control systems with a purely mechanical pressure-actuated plug mechanism. The plug is held in place by friction or magnetic force and is dislodged automatically when water pressure or physiological pressure exceeds a threshold, triggering valve opening and gas release without electronics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the device uses manual inflation mechanisms, then the structure is simple, but the device fails to provide automatic buoyancy when the user is unconscious or unable to activate it

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic activationVSAvoidactivation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device monitors its own operational status through the pressure-sensitive plug mechanism and physiological sensors, automatically triggering inflation when predetermined conditions are met. The system serves itself by detecting water immersion or low blood oxygen and initiating buoyancy deployment without external intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates feedback loops where pressure sensors detect water immersion depth and blood oxygen sensors monitor physiological status. When these sensors detect critical thresholds, they trigger the plug mechanism to open valves and inflate the bladder, creating a closed-loop automatic response system that adapts to real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If the bladder inflates immediately upon water contact, then buoyancy is provided quickly, but the device cannot distinguish between intentional submersion and drowning emergencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinflation speedVSAvoidactivation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses parameter thresholds to differentiate between normal and emergency conditions. The pressure-sensitive plug is calibrated to activate only when water pressure or blood oxygen levels reach critical thresholds indicative of drowning, rather than activating at any water contact. This selective parameter-based triggering ensures accurate emergency identification while maintaining rapid response capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 provides reliable buoyancy support by inflating the bladder when exposed to water pressure or low oxygen levels, ensuring the user's head remains above water, enhancing safety in drowning scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

the plug is capable of being dislodged by pressure thereby activating the actuator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the actuator comprises a plug magnetically attracted to the interior surface of a conduit or to a component positioned within the conduit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Implementation Method 3

the vessel contains compressed fluid capable of being released into the bladder as a gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas release from compressed fluid: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS9957026B2Device for providing buoyancy

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A device for providing buoyancy comprising; —a bladder capable of being inflated; —a vessel containing fluid for inflating the bladder; and —one or more valves for controlling the passage of fluid between the bladder and the vessel; wherein one or more of the valves are capable of being opened to permit the passage of fluid from the vessel to the bladder in response to at least one of exposure of the device to a pre-determined pressure level and detection of blood oxygen concentration below a pre-determine threshold in an individual using the device.