Fixed Venturi Patient Interface for Continuous High-Frequency Oscillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-frequency oscillation therapy devices for lung secretion clearance are complex, expensive, and difficult to use, making them inaccessible to those who need them, as they require sophisticated mechanisms and training for administration.
Innovation Solution
A simple, inexpensive, and user-friendly device that delivers continuous high-frequency oscillation therapy during both inhalation and exhalation using a fixed venturi patient interface with a flow interrupter and nebulizer, allowing for bi-directional airflow and reducing the complexity of the patient interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex mechanized valves and sliding venturi patient adapters are used to deliver high-frequency oscillation therapy, then effective secretion mobilization is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex mechanized valves and sliding venturi components from the patient interface, retaining only the essential fixed venturi structure. This extraction eliminates unnecessary complexity while preserving the core therapeutic function of delivering high-frequency oscillation therapy for secretion mobilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex mechanized valves that open and close between inhalation and exhalation phases, the patent inverts the approach by using a fixed, passive venturi structure that continuously delivers oscillation therapy throughout both inhalation and exhalation without requiring active valve control.
2Reliability
If sliding venturi patient adapters with moving parts are used, then high-frequency oscillation therapy is delivered, but friction and component fatigue increase leading to higher maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes all sliding and moving components from the patient interface, including the venturi that previously slid between open and closed positions. This eliminates friction-induced wear and component fatigue, resulting in a maintenance-free patient adapter with no moving parts to fail.
3Reliability
If sophisticated mechanisms and trained professionals are required to administer therapy, then effective treatment is delivered, but accessibility and ease of use decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the patient interface to be self-regulating and automatically adaptive, eliminating the need for trained professionals to adjust complex valve timing or pressure settings. The fixed venturi structure with forward and rearward apertures automatically adapts to patient breathing patterns, allowing anyone to administer effective therapy without specialized training.
4Reliability
If critical dimensions and precise manufacturing tolerances are maintained in patient adapters, then therapy performance is ensured, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the sliding venturi mechanism and associated critical dimensional requirements, retaining only a fixed venturi structure with simplified aperture geometry. This extraction eliminates the need for precision-machined moving parts while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through the fixed aperture design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies critical manufacturing tolerances only to the essential forward and rearward apertures of the fixed venturi structure, where they directly affect therapy delivery. Non-critical areas of the patient adapter are manufactured with standard tolerances, reducing overall complexity and weight while maintaining performance.
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 device effectively mobilizes lung secretions by reducing viscosity and creating wind shear forces, is easy to use with minimal training, and is cost-effective, making it accessible to a wider population while ensuring safety and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
as the column of air in the airways is oscillated by the high-frequency pulses of gas, the viscosity of the mucus is reduced by the untangling of some of the larger molecule strands
Implementation Method 2
the high-frequency, intermittent delivery of gas contributes to a bi-directional flow creating wind shear forces which, in turn, help to mobilize the secretions in a cephalad fashion
Implementation Method 3
A continuous high-frequency oscillation breathing treatment device is provided which incorporates a fixed venturi patient interface
Data Source
AI summary
A continuous high-frequency oscillation breathing device delivers therapy during both inhalation and exhalation in order to assist in clearing secretions from the lungs. A venturi patient interface circuit is combined with medicated aerosol to deliver continuous high-frequency oscillation therapy. Fixed open apertures in the patient interface circuit allow ingress and egress of flow, and are calibrated to allow exhalation and prevent stacking of successive breaths.