CPAP Nebulizing Device Angle Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing CPAP devices lose a substantial amount of nebulized drug due to air stream turbulence and dilution, resulting in inadequate delivery of medication to the airways and lungs during respiratory treatment of neonates.

Innovation Solution

A modified nebulizing device with a nebulizing channel positioned at a specific angle (α≧120°) relative to the branch-channel, ensuring that nebulized drug particles remain aerosolized and are effectively delivered to the airways without significant loss or dilution, using pneumatic principles and geometric design to stabilize pressure and flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If nebulized drug is introduced via the inlet channel for fresh gas, then respiratory treatment does not have to be interrupted, but the air stream washes out the hollow body and takes nebulized drug out through the pressure generating hole causing dilution and loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous treatment capabilityVSAvoidnebulized drug loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the flow path into separate functional zones: a first opening for respiratory gas flow, a second opening for drug flow introduction, and a hollow body that serves as a separate drug delivery chamber. This segmentation prevents the respiratory air stream from directly washing out the nebulized drug while maintaining continuous treatment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow body acts as an intermediary chamber that receives nebulized drug through a second opening and allows it to be carried into the subject's airway through the first opening, without direct exposure to the high-velocity respiratory gas stream that would otherwise wash out the drug.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If nebulized drug is introduced via the expiratory channel, then drug delivery is simplified, but most of the nebulized drug is lost almost instantly due to severe turbulence and greater inflow directing flow away from the subject

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug delivery simplicityVSAvoidnebulized drug loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the drug introduction point from the turbulent expiratory channel environment and places it in a controlled hollow body chamber accessible through a second opening. This separates the drug delivery function from the high-turbulence respiratory flow path, preventing immediate drug loss while maintaining delivery effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If pressure gauge measuring tube is replaced with a wider tube to introduce enough nebulized drug, then drug introduction volume is sufficient, but the main part of nebulized drug is lost through the expiratory channel due to turbulence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenebulized drug volumeVSAvoidnebulized drug loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the drug delivery system from the expiratory channel, using a separate hollow body chamber with a second opening for drug introduction. This allows sufficient drug volume to be introduced without exposing it to the turbulent expiratory flow that would cause immediate loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Speed

If drug particles fall out as liquid during transport in the tube, then gravity causes settling, but the drug never reaches the subject's airway or lungs as aerosol

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug transport speedVSAvoidaerosol delivery reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The nebulized drug is introduced into the hollow body chamber before entering the subject's airway, allowing the aerosol particles to be properly positioned and stabilized in the controlled environment of the hollow body, preventing premature settling and ensuring reliable aerosol delivery to the airways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 simultaneous administration of CPAP and nebulized medication with minimal drug loss and improved pressure stability, ensuring effective delivery of medication to the lungs while maintaining control over the drug dosage and reducing dilution.

Implementation Method 1

using pneumatic principles and geometric design to stabilize pressure and flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic principles:

Implementation Method 2

ensuring that nebulized drug particles remain aerosolized and are effectively delivered to the airways without significant loss or dilution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerosol: Aerosol

Implementation Method 3

a part of this air stream washes out the hollow body and takes part of the nebulized drug out through the pressure generating hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentUS9016275B2Nebulising device for use in a CPAP-system

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 NEORES

AI summary

The present invention relates to a modified nebulizing device for generating a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and addition of nebulized drug which can be carried out simultaneously and in synergy without loosing a substantial amount of nebulized drug. Further, the present invention also discloses a nebulizing device and a nebulizing attachment device usable in a system for generating continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and simultaneously and in synergy adding of nebulized drug without loosing a substantial amount of nebulized drug.