Heated CPAP Tube Sensing and Filtering for Humidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapies, such as CPAP and NIV, face challenges with patient compliance due to discomfort, difficulty of use, aesthetics, and inefficiencies in design, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A CPAP system with integrated humidifier, patient interface, and air delivery tube, incorporating filters and sensors for improved comfort and ease of use, allowing for home cleaning and data management, enhancing patient compliance and therapy efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing respiratory therapy systems are used, then treatment can be provided, but patient compliance is reduced due to discomfort and difficulty of use
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface is divided into separate washable components including headgear, cushion, and connector pieces that can be easily removed and cleaned independently, improving ease of operation and maintenance while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables patients to independently clean and maintain their own equipment through removable washable components, reducing reliance on complex professional maintenance procedures and improving overall ease of use
2Reliability
If therapy systems are made more complex to improve functionality, then treatment efficacy may improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface components serve multiple functions including sealing, comfort, and easy cleaning, while the integrated system provides therapy delivery, monitoring, and data management capabilities through unified hardware that performs multiple therapeutic functions
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs nested components where the cushion fits within the headgear assembly, and removable connectors integrate with the main interface, creating a compact multi-functional unit that delivers complex therapy through layered integrated structures
3Measurement precision
If filters and sensors are added to improve monitoring, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Filters and sensors are integrated into the existing air delivery tube and patient interface structure rather than being separate components, allowing precise monitoring of breath parameters while maintaining a streamlined system design that does not significantly increase overall complexity
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 system provides enhanced comfort, ease of use, and effective treatment of respiratory disorders by improving patient compliance and therapy efficacy through improved design and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The air delivery tube may include a heating element and a temperature sensor
Implementation Method 2
a sensor circuit coupled to the controller and at least partially disposed in the air delivery tube for sensing temperature changes in the air delivery tube
Implementation Method 3
one or more filters coupled to a sensor circuit at least partially disposed in an air delivery tube for sensing temperature changes in an air delivery tube
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for providing a supply of humidified pressurized breathable gas to a patient interface, the apparatus comprising: a flow generator configured to pressurize a supply of breathable gas; a humidifier configured to provide water vapour to humidify the supply of pressurized breathable gas; a heated tube configured to be connectable to the humidifier to heat and deliver the humidified supply of breathable gas to the patient interface; a sensor configured to measure a property of the humidified supply of breathable gas in the heated tube; a controller configured to control power provided to the heated tube and control operation of the flow generator; and a set of low pass filters coupled between the sensor and the controller and/or a set of high pass filters coupled between the sensor and ground.