Convertible Ventilator Circuit with Data Acquisition Unit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial ventilation systems lack precise control over breath size, breath rate, and other key variables, leading to potential lung injury due to over-inflation and the inability to obtain data for qualitative and quantitative assessment of ventilation safety.
Innovation Solution
A convertible ventilator circuit with integrated data acquisition and processing units, compatible with both manual and mechanical ventilators, enables continuous data collection and analysis, providing real-time feedback for safe ventilation practices and ensuring data continuity during transitions between ventilation modalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual ventilation is used to provide rapid emergency support, then ease of operation and quick response are improved, but control precision and safety monitoring are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
A data acquisition unit is introduced as an intermediary component that interfaces with the manual ventilator circuit. This unit includes sensors that detect pressure, flow, and volume parameters, converting physical ventilation parameters into measurable electrical signals for continuous monitoring without interfering with the manual operation of the ventilator.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring ventilation parameters through the data acquisition unit and providing real-time information to the operator. The processed data feeds back to enable assessment of ventilation safety and effectiveness, allowing operators to adjust their manual ventilation technique based on objective measurements.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical ventilation is used to provide sustained support with precise control, then control precision and data acquisition are improved, but device complexity and response time are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the manual ventilator component for rapid response, the data acquisition unit for measurement, and the processing unit for analysis. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity for emergency use while adding measurement capabilities without requiring a complete mechanical ventilator system.
Solution Approach 2:
The data acquisition unit is designed with universal applicability, capable of interfacing with both manual and mechanical ventilator systems. The same sensor array and processing unit can monitor different ventilation modalities, making the system multi-functional and reducing the need for separate monitoring systems for different ventilation types.
3Reliability
If data acquisition systems are added to monitor ventilation safety, then measurement capability and patient safety are improved, but device complexity and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The data acquisition unit merges multiple sensing functions (pressure, flow, volume detection) into a single integrated device that interfaces with the ventilator circuit. By combining these functions rather than using separate monitoring devices, the system reduces overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an artificial ventilation system is provided. The method includes providing the artificial ventilation system comprising (i) a convertible ventilator circuit configured to convert between manual ventilation use and mechanical ventilation use, (ii) a patient manifold connected to the convertible ventilator circuit, the patient manifold comprising one or more sensor ports, (iii) an airway adjunct connector connected between the patient manifold and an airway adjunct in physical contact with a patient, and (iii) a data acquisition unit comprising one or more sensors configured to interface with the one or more sensor ports of the patient manifold. The method also includes determining, by the data acquisition unit, whether the airway adjunct connector is at least partially disconnected from the patient manifold and signaling, by the data acquisition unit, an alarm when the at least partial disconnection is detected.