Blood Pressure Cuff Valve-Chamber Assembly for Quiet Inflation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood pressure monitoring systems using inflatable cuffs can cause discomfort, limb edema, and noise, and often require manual inflation which is difficult to control and can lead to unreliable blood pressure readings.
Innovation Solution
A valve-chamber assembly that allows a gas canister to be placed in a chamber and engaged with a valve assembly, enabling controlled inflation and deflation of the inflatable cuff, reducing noise and discomfort, and improving the accuracy of blood pressure measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a motor or pump is used to inflate the inflatable cuff, then the blood pressure monitoring is automated, but the system produces auditory noise and electrical noise that disturbs wearers and makes signal processing unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the motor or pump from the system and replaces it with a gas canister that provides passive gas storage. The gas canister connects to the inflatable cuff through a valve assembly, eliminating the active motorized components that generate noise while maintaining automated inflation capability through pressure-regulated gas flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a valve assembly as an intermediary component between the gas canister and the inflatable cuff. This valve assembly includes a pressure regulator and flow control mechanism that mediates the gas flow, enabling automated inflation without requiring a motor or pump, thereby eliminating the source of auditory and electrical noise.
2Stress or pressure
If a threaded release valve is used to control gas flow from the gas canister, then the high pressure gas can be safely contained, but the threads may be stripped or misaligned and the gas canister is left exposed to accidental unscrewing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the gas canister inside a protective housing that encloses the connection interface. The valve assembly is integrated into the housing structure, creating a nested arrangement where the gas canister is securely positioned within the housing. This eliminates exposure of threaded connections and prevents accidental unscrewing while maintaining pressure containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the valve assembly, gas canister mounting, and protective housing into a single integrated chamber assembly. The release valve is incorporated into the housing structure rather than being a separate external component, merging multiple functions into one unified assembly that eliminates the reliability issues of exposed threaded connections.
3Device complexity
If manual inflation using an inflation bulb is used, then the system is simpler, but it is difficult to inflate the cuff at a constant rate making blood pressure measurement during inflation unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pressure-regulated valve assembly that automatically controls the inflation rate based on the pressure differential between the gas canister and the inflatable cuff. As the cuff pressure approaches the canister pressure, the valve automatically reduces flow rate, providing self-regulating constant-rate inflation without requiring complex control systems or manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical inflation bulb system with a pressure-regulated gas flow system. The valve assembly uses pressure differential control to regulate gas flow automatically, substituting the need for manual operation and achieving precise constant-rate inflation that enables accurate blood pressure measurement during the inflation phase.
Data Source
AI summary
A blood pressure measurement system is provided that includes an inflatable cuff, a valve assembly and chamber assembly. The chamber assembly can house a gas canister for providing gas to the inflatable cuff. The valve assembly can include a valve having a high pressure cavity, a low pressure cavity, and a channel providing a gas pathway between the high pressure cavity and the low pressure cavity. The valve assembly can further include a channel cover and spring in the high pressure cavity. The spring can exert a force on the channel cover to create a seal between the high pressure cavity and the channel. The valve assembly can further include a rod extending through the channel and exerting a force on the channel cover to create a gas pathway between the high pressure cavity and the channel.