Esophageal Balloon Catheter with Automated Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transitioning patients from machine ventilation to autonomous breathing require continuous operating personnel support for manual switching between measuring and sealing modes in esophageal pressure catheters, limiting the ability to gradually wean patients off ventilator support without constant intervention.
Innovation Solution
A device and method allowing for automatic and manual switching between volume-controlled and pressure-controlled filling states of an esophageal balloon catheter, enabling intermittent respiratory-mechanical monitoring and sealing, with a controller unit that automatically switches between modes based on a programmable time cycle to facilitate gradual transition to autonomous breathing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual switching between measuring and sealing modes is used, then operational control is maintained, but continuous personnel intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The controller unit automatically switches between measuring mode and sealing mode at predetermined time intervals, implementing periodic action. This allows the system to alternate between obtaining pressure measurements and maintaining secretion sealing without continuous manual intervention, thereby improving automation while managing complexity through a systematic switching protocol.
2Measurement precision
If flaccid balloon filling is used for pressure measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but sealing capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon filling state is dynamically adjusted based on operational mode. During measuring mode, the balloon is filled to a flaccid state for accurate pressure measurement. During sealing mode, the balloon is inflated with positive pressure to seal the esophageal lumen and prevent secretion reflux. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for measurement precision or sealing reliability depending on the current operational requirement.
3Reliability
If positive pressure sealing is applied continuously, then secretion reflux is prevented, but pressure measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic switching between sealing mode with positive pressure and measuring mode with flaccid balloon state. This periodic action ensures that sealing is maintained during designated intervals to prevent secretion reflux, while measurement accuracy is preserved during measuring intervals when the balloon is in a flaccid state, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous sealing and measurement precision.
4Ease of operation
If automatic time-cycle switching is implemented, then personnel intervention is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller unit is programmed to automatically manage the switching between measuring and sealing modes based on predetermined time cycles. Once programmed, the system serves itself by autonomously determining when to switch modes without requiring continuous personnel intervention. This self-service capability improves ease of operation while the programming complexity is a one-time setup cost rather than an ongoing operational burden.
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
Enables the gradual weaning of patients from ventilator support by allowing automatic adjustment of respiratory assistance, reducing the need for continuous personnel intervention and minimizing the risk of ventilation-associated pneumonia through adaptive sealing and monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a first filling state of the balloon component in a measuring functional mode, the balloon component being in a flaccid state and having a filling that is statically set in a volume-defined manner
Implementation Method 2
a second filling state of the balloon component in a sealing functional mode, the filling of the balloon component being dynamically set in a pressure-controlled manner
Implementation Method 3
respiratory-mechanically caused pressure fluctuations that are transferred from the thorax to the esophageally or tracheally sealing balloon are compensated for via appropriate displacements of filling medium by a controller unit connected to the catheter unit, thus continuously maintaining a sealing target pressure
Implementation Method 4
appropriate displacements of filling medium by a controller unit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and a method for alternately measuring the thoracic and pleural pressure and for gastropharyngeal or tracheal sealing, wherein the balloon component of a tube or catheter placed in the trachea or oesophagus alternates between two filling or functional states, wherein the filling state of the balloon component in the measuring mode assumes a value of constant, defined volume during the measurement, said value corresponding to a flaccid filling state, and the filling state of the balloon in the oesophageally or tracheally sealing functional mode maintains a constant, sealing pressure specified by the user. The controller device connected to the tube unit or catheter unit ensures rapid displacement of filling medium into and out of the tube balloon or catheter balloon in the state of tracheal or oesophageal sealing, wherein the tracheally or oesophageally sealing target pressure is maintained continuously by compensating pressure fluctuations in the balloon caused by respiratory mechanics by a continuous, compensating displacement of filling volume. The user can switch between the two functional states by means of a manual switchover function or by means of a programmable, chronological cycle. In addition to the possibility of an intermittent monitoring of the respiratory mechanics and a continuous, tracheally or oesophageally sealing balloon tamponade, the balloon placed in the trachea or oesophagus allows, in both functional states, the thoracic derivation of a triggering, respiratory-mechanical signal which can trigger a ventilating stroke assisting the patient in a ventilator connected to the device. The invention also describes structural and functional options for the simultaneous derivation of a neural and/or muscular electrical signal from the diaphragm of the patient and a respiratory-mechanical signal on the basis of thoracic or pleural pressure fluctuations derived tracheally or oesophageally.