Flow Sensor Pressure Tapping Stub Isolates Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulmonary function testing instruments face challenges in preventing cross-infection due to the limitations of disposable breathing filters, which compromise airflow resistance and measurement accuracy, and require complex and time-consuming disinfection and recalibration processes for reusable instruments.
Innovation Solution
A flow sensor with a hollow tubular structure and pressure tapping holes that isolate exhaled or inhaled air within a pressure tapping stub, preventing contact with external pipelines, utilizing a differential pressure transducer and a chucking device for secure attachment to pulmonary function instruments, ensuring effective isolation and reducing cross-infection risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable breathing filters with high filter efficiency are used, then cross-infection prevention is improved, but airflow resistance increases and measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the breathing system into two separate pathways: a main breather tube for airflow measurement and a pressure tapping stub for pressure sensing. This segmentation allows the main tube to use low-resistance filters for accurate measurement while the stub provides isolation for cross-infection prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure tapping stub acts as an intermediary component that isolates the pressure sensing function from the main breathing pathway. It captures pressure information without requiring direct connection between the filter and pressure sensor, enabling both accurate measurement and infection prevention.
2Loss of substance
If reusable pulmonary function instruments are used, then cost and waste are reduced, but complex disinfection and recalibration processes increase time consumption and operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the flow sensor disposable while keeping the main pulmonary function instrument reusable. The sensor is designed as a low-cost component that can be discarded after use, eliminating complex disinfection and recalibration processes and reducing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable flow sensor is discarded after a single use to prevent cross-infection, while the expensive main instrument is recovered and reused. This approach eliminates the need for time-consuming disinfection and recalibration of the entire system.
3Reliability
If disposable mouthpieces and filters are used, then cross-infection is prevented, but device complexity and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the mouthpiece, filter, and flow sensor into a single integrated disposable flow sensor unit. This consolidation simplifies the overall system by eliminating separate components and reducing the complexity of assembly and disposal procedures.
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 flow sensor effectively isolates exhaled air from external equipment, preventing cross-infection and allowing for reusable components, while simplifying the disinfection process by maintaining airflow within the sensor, thus reducing measurement errors and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
the volume of the gas inhaled into or exhaled out of the inner cavity of the pressure tapping stub can be limited within the pressure tapping stub without contacting a connection pipeline outside of the flow sensor
Implementation Method 2
In accordance with an ideal gas state equation and Boyle's law, at a certain temperature, the volume of a certain amount of gas is inversely proportional to the pressure intensity of the gas
Data Source
AI summary
A flow sensor for pulmonary function testing is provided, and the flow sensor is capable of preventing cross-infection and has a hollow tubular structure. The flow sensor includes a main breather tube and a pressure tapping hole arranged on a tube wall of the main breather tube. An outer wall of the main breather tube is provided with a pressure tapping stub in air communication with the pressure tapping hole. The volume of an inner cavity of the pressure tapping stub satisfies following condition: during the pulmonary function testing, air exhaled or inhaled by a tester enters the pressure tapping stub through the pressure tapping hole and is kept within the pressure tapping stub without contacting a connection pipeline outside of the flow sensor. The flow sensor can isolate contaminants, i.e., bacteria or viruses and prevent the contaminants from entering other connection pipelines or cavities of a pulmonary function instrument.