On-Demand Calibration Fluid Generation for Respiratory Gas Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory gas analysis devices face challenges in completely removing nitrogen dioxide and other interfering species from their sensitive layers, making it difficult to accurately measure analytes in exhaled air, particularly for devices that convert nitrogen monoxide to nitrogen dioxide for asthma inflammation estimation.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for producing a calibration fluid, specifically nitrogen oxides, using a reactant carrier and contact element within the device to initiate a chemical reaction, allowing for well-defined calibration and quality control of the gas analysis device without the need for external fluid connections or storage, enabling efficient regeneration and calibration of the gas sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gas sensor is flushed with heating to regenerate the sensitive layer, then the sensor can be regenerated after measurement, but nitrogen dioxide and other interfering species cannot be completely removed from the sensitive layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a preliminary cleaning step using ozone before the standard thermal flushing. The ozone is supplied to the sensitive layer to pre-remove accumulated nitrogen dioxide and interfering species, ensuring the layer is fully cleaned before the next measurement. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by enabling complete removal of contaminants that thermal flushing alone cannot eliminate, thereby improving both regeneration effectiveness and measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If a storage container for calibration fluid is used, then calibration fluid is always available, but the device becomes complex and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a chemical reaction system where reactants (such as nitrogen dioxide and oxygen) automatically react under controlled conditions to generate calibration fluid on-demand within the device. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external storage containers, gas lines, or pressurized bottles. The calibration fluid is produced internally when needed, maintaining availability while significantly reducing device complexity and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and generation method of calibration fluid from stored compressed gas to chemically generated gas at controlled parameters. By controlling temperature, pressure, and reactant mixing ratios, the system produces calibration fluid with precise concentration parameters directly within the measurement chamber, eliminating storage infrastructure while ensuring calibrated availability.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If calibration fluid is stored for later use, then calibration can be performed anytime, but the calibration fluid quality and stability decrease over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements on-demand generation of calibration fluid through controlled chemical reactions of reactants within the device. Instead of storing calibration fluid for extended periods, the system produces fresh calibration gas immediately before each calibration measurement using nitrogen dioxide and oxygen reactants. This eliminates quality degradation over time while maintaining continuous availability, as each calibration uses freshly generated fluid with known, stable composition.
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 solution allows for simple recalibration and quality control of respiratory gas analysis devices, ensuring accurate measurements by producing a calibration fluid on demand, maintaining higher quality and stability compared to stored fluids, and integrating calibration and charging functions in a compact device.
Implementation Method 1
contact of the contact element with the reactant carrier for initiating a chemical reaction of the first reactant to produce the calibration fluid
Implementation Method 2
The device comprises a heater for heating the reactant carrier which has been introduced
Data Source
AI summary
A device for providing a calibration fluid, in particular a nitrogen oxide, for calibrating a respiratory gas analysis device, includes a first interface for connecting a chamber of the device to a measurement path of the respiratory gas analysis device, a first opening for introducing a reactant carrier with a first reactant into the chamber, and a contact element. The contact element is arranged in the chamber relative to the first opening such that when the reactant carrier is introduced, a contact of the contact element with the reactant carrier is facilitated in order to trigger a chemical reaction of the first reactant so as to generate the calibration fluid. The disclosure further relates to a system, a reactant carrier, and a method for providing a calibration fluid for calibrating a respiratory gas analysis device.