Composite Chest Valve Resolving Air Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chest valves fail to completely prevent air leakage into the pleural cavity due to incomplete closure when outside air pressure exceeds the pressure in the pleural space, exacerbating pneumothorax conditions.
Innovation Solution
A one-way flutter valve is designed using a combination of thin and thick lay-flat polyethylene tubing strips, where the thicker strip assists in keeping the thinner strip flat and closed, except when fluid flows through, ensuring no air leaks back into the pleural cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a thin lay-flat polyethylene tubing strip is used as the flutter valve, then the valve is flexible and allows fluid flow, but it fails to completely close and prevent air leakage when outside air pressure exceeds pleural cavity pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a thin flutter valve strip with a thicker support strip along their longitudinal edges to create a composite valve structure. The thin strip provides flexibility for fluid flow while the thick strip provides structural support for complete closure, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses two strips of polyethylene tubing with different thicknesses fused together to create a composite structure. The thin strip (first layer) allows flexibility and fluid flow, while the thick strip (second layer) provides rigidity and ensures complete closure, effectively combining the advantages of both material properties.
2Strength
If the valve strip is made thinner to improve flexibility, then fluid flow is enhanced, but the valve cannot maintain complete closure under pressure differential
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a thin flexible strip with a thick rigid strip along their longitudinal edges. The thin strip contributes flexibility and fluid flow capability, while the thick strip contributes closure force and structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between strength and force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different thicknesses of material in different regions of the valve structure. The thin strip region provides local flexibility for fluid flow, while the thick strip region provides local structural support for closure, allowing each region to optimize its local function.
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 effectively prevents reverse airflow by ensuring the valve remains closed, thereby effectively treating pneumothorax by maintaining lung inflation without air leakage, enhancing the safety and efficacy of chest valve operations.
Implementation Method 1
A second strip of thicker lay-flat polyethylene tubing is fused to the first strip along a common longitudinal edge of the strips. The second strip assists in closing the first strip except while fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet of the first strip.
Data Source
AI summary
A chest valve including: a housing including an inlet configured to connect to a chest tube, an outlet and a fluid passage from the inlet to the outlet; and a one-way valve within the housing and included in the flow passage, wherein the one-way valve includes: (i) a first tubular strip wherein having an internal air passage and a first layer defining the air passage, wherein the first layer has a first thickness and the internal air passage of the first tubular strip is included in fluid passage of the housing; and (ii) a second tubular strip wherein having a second layer with a second thickness with a second thickness greater than the first thickness, wherein an outer surface of the second tubular strip is adjacent and overlaps an outer surface of the first tubular strip.