Breathable Gas Regulator Synchronizes Leak and Mouth Movement Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilatory assistance devices struggle to accurately determine the origin of gas leaks, particularly when caused by patient movement, leading to inappropriate adjustments in breathable gas supply.

Innovation Solution

A device that synchronizes leak signals with mouth movement signals to differentiate between interface displacement and patient-induced leaks, using a processing unit to generate control signals for adjusting gas supply based on the correlation between mouth movements and leaks, and incorporates memory for storing signals for analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the device uses only leak detection to adjust gas supply, then the adjustment response is simple and fast, but the origin of the leak cannot be accurately determined leading to inappropriate adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleak origin detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The leak detection function is segmented into multiple independent detection channels: leak detection means for detecting gas leaks, and mouth movement detection means for detecting patient mouth movements. Each channel operates independently to provide specific information about different aspects of the system state, enabling accurate differentiation between interface displacement leaks and patient-induced leaks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A processing unit acts as an intermediary that receives signals from both the leak detection means and mouth movement detection means. This intermediary component synchronizes the signals in time, compares them to determine correlation, and generates appropriate control signals for gas supply adjustment, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple detection and accurate origin identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the device synchronizes and analyzes multiple signals to determine leak origin, then the adjustment accuracy improves, but the processing complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleak origin identification accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The processing unit continuously synchronizes leak signals with mouth movement signals in real-time, maintaining a ready state for immediate comparison and analysis. This preliminary synchronization ensures that when a leak occurs, the system can instantly determine its origin without delay, as the temporal relationship between signals is already established and maintained.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the processing unit continuously monitors the correlation between leak detection signals and mouth movement signals. When a correlation is detected, the system immediately adjusts the gas supply accordingly and continues monitoring to verify the effectiveness of the adjustment, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes response time through iterative feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If the device adjusts gas supply based on all detected leaks, then the pressure maintenance is consistent, but inappropriate adjustments occur when leaks are caused by patient movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas pressure stabilityVSAvoidadjustment appropriateness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control strategy is differentiated based on the local quality or type of leak detected. When the processing unit determines that a leak is caused by interface displacement (not correlated with mouth movements), the system increases gas supply to maintain pressure. When the leak is correlated with mouth movements, the system recognizes this as a patient-induced leak and adjusts or maintains gas supply accordingly, avoiding inappropriate increases. This localized differentiation of control responses resolves the contradiction between consistent pressure maintenance and appropriate adaptation to different leak scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3193991B1Device for pressure regulation of a breathable gas
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 NOMICS
  • EP3193991B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3193991B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3193991B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (5) for regulating the provision of a breathable gas provided for respiratory assistance to a patient (4) by a ventilatory assistance apparatus (1), comprising a first input (6) receiving a product leak signal in the event of detection of a leak by a leak detection member supplied by the ventilatory assistance apparatus. The device adjusts the provision of breathable gas to the patient in response to the received leak signal, and comprises a second input (7) receiving a mouth movements signal. The device comprises a processing unit (10) producing a synchronization signal between the mouth movements measurement signal and the leak signal. The processing unit produces a modification rate indicating the modification to provide to the breathable gas provision.