Electromagnetic Respiratory Stimulation for Non-Invasive Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventilation methods for patients with extensive lung injury, such as ARDS, are invasive and lead to additional injuries to the lungs and other organ systems, causing complications and high mortality rates, especially in non-university hospitals, due to the use of tracheal tubes and positive-pressure ventilation.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive electromagnetic or electrical stimulation method that controls respiratory muscles and nerves to provide natural pressure fluctuations in the chest and abdomen, allowing for targeted control of respiration to prevent excessive or inadequate efforts, and can be used independently or synchronized with spontaneous respiration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If invasive ventilation with tracheal tubes and positive-pressure ventilation is used, then gas exchange can be maintained, but additional injuries to lungs and other organ systems occur, causing complications and high mortality rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive ventilation system (tracheal tubes, positive-pressure ventilation) with an electromagnetic stimulation system that acts on the phrenic nerve and respiratory muscles. This substitution eliminates the need for airway invasion and mechanical pressure application, thereby preventing barotrauma, volutrauma, and other ventilation-induced lung injuries while maintaining effective respiratory support through neuromuscular activation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic fields as an intermediary mechanism to stimulate the phrenic nerve and respiratory muscles. Instead of directly applying mechanical pressure to the lungs, the system uses electromagnetic stimulation as a mediator to activate the body's own respiratory control mechanisms, thereby achieving ventilation without the harmful effects of invasive mechanical ventilation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive electromagnetic or electrical stimulation is used, then additional injuries are reduced, but the method complexity increases compared to conventional ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the stimulation function from complex invasive mechanical systems and isolates it to targeted electromagnetic stimulation of specific nerves (phrenic nerve). By focusing on a single neural pathway rather than complex mechanical control systems, the solution reduces overall system complexity while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness and minimizing tissue injury
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters from mechanical pressure and flow control to electromagnetic field parameters (frequency, amplitude, pulse duration). This parameter transformation enables non-invasive control of respiratory muscles through neuromuscular stimulation, reducing physical trauma while the parameters can be precisely adjusted to match patient needs without requiring complex mechanical apparatus
3Stability of the object's composition
If controlled ventilation is used to maintain gas exchange, then respiratory stability is improved, but the respiratory muscles become further weakened due to disuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the respiratory muscles to serve themselves by directly stimulating them through electromagnetic fields applied to the phrenic nerve. This self-service mechanism allows the muscles to maintain and even strengthen their function through active engagement, rather than becoming weakened from disuse as occurs with conventional controlled ventilation where the machine performs all respiratory work
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic electromagnetic stimulation that mimics the natural rhythmic pattern of respiratory cycles. By delivering stimulation in periodic bursts corresponding to inhalation and exhalation phases, the system maintains respiratory muscle strength through repeated activation while providing stable gas exchange, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and muscle maintenance
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
This method enables gentle and effective ventilation of the lungs and diaphragm, reducing the risk of injury and complications, allowing for individualized control of respiratory patterns to prevent collapse of lung areas and improve gas exchange, thereby reducing mortality and the need for sedation and catecholamines.
Implementation Method 1
electromagnetic or electrical generated stimulation signals are fed into at least one nerve and/or one muscle
Implementation Method 2
electrically, electromagnetically and/or magnetically generated stimulation signals
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrostimulation appliance for stimulating one or more nerves and/or muscles of a living being with electrical signals, having the following features:a) the electrostimulation appliance has at least one signal output device through which electrical stimulation signals can be fed into at least one nerve and/or one muscle,b) the electrostimulation appliance has at least one control device which is configured to activate the at least one signal output device in such a way that the stimulation signals output by the at least one signal output device are able to generate muscle contractions in the living being, by which the respiration of the living being can be influenced in a targeted manner.