Flow Metering Connector for Nasal Cannula Oxygen Division
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-invasive respiratory support apparatus for delivering oxygen or air to nasal cannulas, particularly in infant therapy, lacks efficient and compact flow control mechanisms, leading to inconsistent and uncontrolled air or oxygen flow.
Innovation Solution
A flow metering connector with a hollow body having a large input chamber and two smaller output chambers, featuring tapered passages and flanges for secure connection, ensures equal and efficient division of the input flow into two output streams, utilizing a venturi-type control mechanism for precise flow control and enhanced sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flow control mechanism is added to deliver oxygen or air to nasal cannulas, then flow control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector body is segmented into distinct functional chambers: a larger input chamber for receiving oxygen/air flow and two smaller output chambers for delivering controlled flow to nasal cannulas. This segmentation enables precise flow division while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through telescopic interfitting of modular sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector acts as an intermediary device between the oxygen/air source and the nasal cannulas, incorporating venturi-type passages that mediate flow control. The tapered passages within the connector body serve as flow regulation elements, precisely controlling the distribution of gas flow without requiring complex external control mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If telescopic interfit connection is used for ducts, then ease of connection is improved, but sealing reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates localized sealing features at critical interfaces. The tapered output chamber passages include sealing surfaces that ensure reliable gas-tight connections with the nasal cannula ducts. The wall extending about the input chamber provides localized sealing contact with the input duct, ensuring both ease of connection and sealing reliability through strategically placed sealing elements.
3Measurement precision
If venturi type control passages are used, then flow control precision is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The venturi-type control passages utilize changes in geometric parameters (tapered dimensions, passage cross-sectional areas) to achieve precise flow control. By carefully designing the taper angles and passage dimensions within the connector body, the system achieves accurate flow division while remaining manufacturable through standard molding techniques.
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 provides accurate, efficient, and safe delivery of oxygen or air to nasal cannulas, preventing inadvertent disassembly and ensuring consistent flow rates, thereby improving respiratory support for infants with enhanced safety and manipulative positioning.
Implementation Method 1
Such passages typically have like cylindrical bores, and equal lengths, whereby venturi type control of dual output flows is established
Data Source
AI summary
A connector for connecting an oxygen input flow duct with two narrowed oxygen output flow ducts, is provided thereby to meter oxygen flow to nasal cannula, and includes a hollow body having a relatively large flow input chamber sized for telescopic interfit with the input flow duct, the body having two relatively smaller flow output chambers sized for telescopic interfit with the respective two output flow ducts. The two output chambers have direct and like-sized communication with the input chamber whereby input flow is equally divided into two output flow streams.