Gas Concentration Measuring System with Paramagnetic Oxygen Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current measurement systems for determining gas concentrations in respiratory gases, particularly in clinical settings, require multiple devices and complex synchronization to accurately measure oxygen, anesthetic gases, and carbon dioxide, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A measuring system comprising a device with a measuring element, electromagnet, calculation and control unit, and circuit arrangement that detects thermoelectric voltage signals to determine oxygen and anesthetic gas concentrations in a single gas sample, using standardized signal components and compensation for environmental factors like pressure and moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple additional measuring devices with optical or electrochemical sensors are used to determine carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and anesthetic gas concentrations, then the gas concentration measurement capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the paramagnetic measuring device universal by enabling it to measure multiple gas types (oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and anesthetic gases) through a single device. The device achieves multi-functionality by detecting different gases via their respective thermal conductivity characteristics under magnetic field influence, eliminating the need for separate optical or electrochemical sensors for each gas type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of multiple measuring devices (paramagnetic oxygen sensor, optical CO2 sensor, electrochemical anesthetic gas sensor) into a single integrated measuring device. This merging approach uses one measuring chamber and evaluation unit to handle all gas concentration measurements, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple additional measuring devices are used to determine various gas concentrations, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to complex synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measurement functions into a single device with one measuring chamber, eliminating the need for complex synchronization between parallel or serial measurements. The unified evaluation unit processes all gas concentration data simultaneously, greatly simplifying operation while preserving measurement precision for oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and anesthetic gases.
3Adaptability or versatility
If several additional measuring devices with independent sensors are used, then the gas concentration detection capability is improved, but the loss of time increases due to sequential sampling and synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines all gas detection functions into a single measuring chamber where oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and anesthetic gas concentrations are measured simultaneously in parallel. This eliminates the time loss associated with sequential sampling and synchronization, as the evaluation unit processes all gas types concurrently from the same gas sample.
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
Enables cost-effective, simultaneous measurement of oxygen and anesthetic gas concentrations in respiratory gases, reducing the need for multiple devices and simplifying the measurement process while maintaining accuracy across varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a sufficiently strong external magnetic field, however, ensures that the magnetic dipole moments of the individual molecules are aligned
Implementation Method 2
The cause of this behavior is apparently the fact that paramagnetic gases possess a permanent magnetic moment, which, however, does not normally appear externally, due to the thermal molecular motion of the gas molecules
Data Source
AI summary
A measurement system (100) determines gas concentrations in a gas mixture of a gas sample by utilizing thermal conductivities and paramagnetic effects of thermal conductivities in the gas mixture involving data sets (203). A circuit arrangement provides measured values with an AC signal component and with a DC signal component to a calculation and control unit (200). An oxygen concentration in the gas mixture of the gas sample is determined based on the standardized AC signal components and a concentration of another gas in the gas mixture of the gas sample is determined based on the standardized DC voltage signal components. Output signals are generated by the calculation and control unit, which indicate the determined oxygen concentration and the determined concentration of another gas in the gas mixture of the gas sample.