Flow Interruption Valve for Ventilator Pressure Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for disconnecting patients from mechanical ventilators pose risks of contaminant entry, lung injury, and loss of positive end expiratory pressure, and existing solutions like using forceps to close the breathing tube are dangerous.
Innovation Solution
A standalone flow interruption valve with a compression system that allows temporary interruption of ventilator gas flow, maintaining lung pressure, and includes a design for permanent attachment to prevent contamination and reconnection without disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the patient is physically disconnected from the mechanical ventilator, then procedures such as transportation and filter replacement can be performed, but contaminants may enter the patient and lung injury may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The flow interruption valve serves as an intermediary device that remains connected to the patient's breathing circuit, allowing healthcare providers to perform procedures without fully disconnecting the patient from ventilation support. The valve acts as a mediator between the patient and the external environment, enabling safe temporary interruption of airflow while maintaining system integrity and preventing contaminant entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The breathing circuit is segmented into distinct functional sections: the patient connection portion, the flow interruption valve, and the ventilator connection portion. This segmentation allows the valve to be independently manipulated to interrupt flow while the rest of the circuit remains intact and connected to the ventilator, enabling procedures without complete disconnection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the patient is disconnected from the ventilator, then component replacement and transportation are enabled, but positive end expiratory pressure is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The flow interruption valve acts as an intermediary that allows component replacement at the valve itself or in sections of the circuit distal to the patient, eliminating the need to disconnect from the ventilator. This maintains PEEP while enabling necessary maintenance and transportation procedures.
3Productivity
If forceps are used to compress the patient's breathing tube, then airflow can be interrupted, but the method is dangerous and may cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The flow interruption valve is designed as a disposable device that provides a safe, controlled mechanism for interrupting airflow. Instead of using dangerous reusable tools like forceps that can cause injury, a single-use valve is employed that eliminates the risk of accidental tissue damage while achieving the same flow interruption goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve provides a controlled intermediary mechanism between the provider's manual compression action and the patient's breathing tube. Rather than directly compressing the tube with forceps, the valve's compression system systematically collapses the inner tube in a controlled manner, preventing injury while achieving flow interruption.
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 interruption valve effectively maintains lung pressure and prevents contamination during procedures by temporarily stopping airflow, ensuring safe and controlled disconnection and reconnection to the ventilator.
Implementation Method 1
the compression system is actuatable to prevent and allow airflow from the ventilator port to the patient port
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a flow interruption valve comprising a first section permanently connected to the second section. The first section has a patient portion to connect to a corresponding tube of a patient, whereas the second section has a ventilator port to connect to a corresponding tube of a ventilator. The first section is further comprised of a compression system, which can be compressed to pinch an inner tube and prevent airflow from the ventilator to the patient and vice-versa.