Deformable Chest Vest for HFCWO Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing High Frequency Chest Compression (HFCC) therapy systems are uncomfortable and painful, leading to reduced treatment efficiency and compliance due to high constant pressure, noise, and discomfort, limiting their use and effectiveness, especially for patients with respiratory issues.
Innovation Solution
A medical vest with a deformable chamber that generates focused pulsations perpendicular to the chest, reducing overall pressure and noise, allowing for more efficient and comfortable treatment by targeting specific areas with adjustable frequencies and amplitudes, suitable for various patient conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high constant pressure is applied to the chest, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but patient comfort and compliance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsations instead of constant pressure. The vest delivers controlled pulsating forces to the chest wall at specific frequencies (e.g., 5-20 Hz), creating rhythmic compression and decompression cycles that clear secretions while allowing lung re-expansion between pulses, thereby maintaining effectiveness while reducing constant pressure burden
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure delivery parameters from constant to variable/pulsating. By controlling the frequency, amplitude, and duty cycle of pressure application, the system achieves effective mucus clearance with lower peak pressures and longer rest periods, improving patient comfort while maintaining therapeutic efficacy
2Productivity
If high frequency pulsations are applied, then mucus clearance efficiency is improved, but noise levels increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical oscillating mechanisms (which generate high noise) with a pneumatic or inflatable system. Air is pumped into chambers in the vest to create controlled expansion and contraction, producing the necessary mechanical pulsations through fluid pressure rather than direct mechanical vibration, significantly reducing noise generation
3Reliability
If uniform pressure is applied across the entire chest, then overall lung clearance is improved, but localized treatment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the chest treatment area into multiple independent zones or compartments within the vest. Each zone can be independently inflated and controlled, allowing selective application of pulsations to specific lung lobes or regions. This segmentation enables both comprehensive coverage when all zones are activated and targeted localized treatment when only specific zones are engaged
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 enhances treatment efficiency and comfort, increasing the range of clinical applications and patient compliance, reducing exacerbations and hospitalization rates by providing a gentler and more focused therapy with lower noise levels, suitable for hypertensive patients and those with respiratory distress.
Implementation Method 1
a port in communication with the chamber configured to let a pressurized fluid flowing alternatively in and out the chamber so that the inflatable device alternatively passes from an inflated configuration to a deflated configuration
Implementation Method 2
a body made of an elastic material and arranged to expand along said one single direction when the device passes from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
Medical vest for High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) system, comprising at least a device (1) comprising a deformable chamber (8) and at least a port (5, 6) in communication with the chamber (8) configured to let a pressurized fluid flowing alternatively in and out the chamber (8) so that the inflatable device (1) alternatively passes from an inflated configuration to a deflated configuration, characterized in that the device (1) is configured to essentially expand along one single direction (200) when passing from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration.