Gas Flow Indicator Device with Pneumatic Concealment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas delivery devices, such as oxygen masks and manual resuscitator devices, lack effective visual indicators for confirming the presence and flow rate of supplemental oxygen, leading to potential undetected failures in oxygen supply, which can result in hypoxemia or catastrophic sequelae, especially in emergency or critical care scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A gas flow indicator device with an elongate housing and a concealment member that moves in response to gas flow pressure, exposing an annular indicator member for visual confirmation of gas flow through a viewing window, allowing for quick verification of adequate oxygen supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas delivery devices use simple design without flow indicators, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but the ability to detect gas flow failure is lost leading to safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-changing indicators to signal gas flow status. The indicator member changes color or visibility state based on the presence or absence of gas flow, providing immediate visual feedback to users. This resolves the contradiction by adding reliable detection capability through a simple visual mechanism rather than complex electronic sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary indicator mechanism between the gas flow and the user. The indicator member acts as a mediator that translates invisible gas flow into visible visual signals. This allows reliable detection of gas flow failure without requiring users to directly observe or measure the gas flow itself, maintaining simplicity while improving safety.
2Reliability
If gas flow indicators are added to delivery devices, then safety and reliability improve, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive indicator members that can be easily manufactured and integrated into disposable or single-use gas delivery devices. These indicators are designed to be cost-effective components that provide reliable visual feedback without requiring expensive materials or complex manufacturing processes, thus improving safety while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The color-changing mechanism provides a visually distinct indication of gas flow status using simple optical properties. This approach is more cost-effective than electronic displays or complex mechanical indicators, as it relies on passive optical effects rather than active components, thereby improving reliability while minimizing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Ease of operation
If visual indicators are implemented, then ease of operation improves by allowing quick verification of gas flow, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device into distinct functional components: the indicator member, the concealment member, and the housing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently and simplifies assembly and manufacturing. The indicator and concealment members can be produced separately and then integrated, reducing overall manufacturing difficulty despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The concealment member is designed to move dynamically in response to gas flow pressure, automatically exposing or concealing the indicator based on flow conditions. This dynamic behavior provides intuitive visual feedback without requiring additional controls or complex mechanisms, improving ease of operation while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
4Reliability
If concealment member mechanism is added to indicate flow, then reliability of flow detection improves, but device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The concealment member is designed to be self-actuating, using the gas flow pressure itself to move and reveal or conceal the indicator. This eliminates the need for external actuators, motors, or additional control mechanisms, providing reliable flow detection while minimizing the number of components. The system essentially uses its own operating parameter (gas flow pressure) to trigger the indication mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles where gas flow pressure directly acts on the concealment member to produce mechanical movement. This pneumatic actuation mechanism provides reliable visual indication of adequate flow using only the gas flow itself, without requiring additional mechanical linkages, springs, or complex mechanisms, thus improving reliability while keeping component count low.
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 provides a reliable visual indication of gas flow and minimum flow rates, ensuring that patients receive the required oxygen flow rate, thereby reducing the risk of hypoxemia and improving patient safety by simplifying the confirmation of correct operation.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member, such as a spring, acting to bias the concealment member to the first end
Implementation Method 2
the concealment member moves towards the second end of the housing in response to gas flow pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
A gas flow indicator device (10) has an elongate housing (12) defining a chamber (20) enabling gas flow from an inlet (22) at a first end (16) to an outlet (24) at a second end (18). An indicator member (26) within the chamber (20) extends from adjacent the first end (16) over part of the length of the chamber (20) and is of annular form enabling gas to enter the chamber along a bore (28) through the indicator member (26). The indicator member (26) is spaced from an inner surface (30) of a peripheral sidewall (14) of the housing (12) to define an annular space (32) within the chamber (20). A concealment member (34) is movable from the first end (16) by a sufficient pressure generated by gas flow through the chamber (20), against a biasing member (36) acting to bias the concealment member (34) to the first end (16). An annular skirt (38) of the concealment member (34) is receivable into the annular space (32) so one end (40) of the skirt (38) provides a seal against an annular surface (42) at an end wall (44) at the first end (16), while a transverse wall (48) at the other end (46) of the concealment member (34) defines an opening (50) providing resistance to gas flow. The one end (40) of the skirt (38) can be held in sealing engagement at the annular surface (42) to conceal the indicator member (26) from view through an adjacent window (52) of the housing (12). Increasing gas flow rate to achieve the sufficient pressure overcomes the bias, enabling the concealment member (34) to move towards the second end (18), exposing the indicator member (26) to view through the window (52), and thereby providing a visual indication of gas flow.