Gas Sensor Kit Flow Rate Adjustment for Exhalation Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas sensor kits face challenges in accurately measuring exhalation gas concentration due to dilution by insufflated therapeutic gases, such as oxygen, which interferes with the measurement process.

Innovation Solution

A gas sensor kit is designed with a flow rate adjusting part, such as a porous member or a columnar body with slits, that reduces the flow rate of therapeutic gases, preventing vigorous blowing and minimizing their impact on exhalation gas measurement. This is achieved by incorporating a porous member, like a sponge, or a columnar body with slits in the gas supply unit, which diffuses the gas flow, ensuring accurate concentration measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If therapeutic gas is insufflated at high flow rate to treat low-oxygen state, then oxygen administration effectiveness is improved, but exhalation gas concentration measurement accuracy deteriorates due to dilution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen administration effectivenessVSAvoidexhalation gas concentration measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The gas flow path is segmented into two separate paths: one for therapeutic gas insufflation and another for exhalation gas sampling. The sampling port is positioned to access exhalation gas directly from the oral cavity through the bite block, bypassing the therapeutic gas flow path. This spatial segmentation allows simultaneous high-flow oxygen administration and accurate exhalation gas measurement without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bite block serves as an intermediary device that facilitates exhalation gas sampling independent of the therapeutic gas flow. It includes a sampling port and conduit system that captures exhalation gas directly from the oral cavity, acting as a mediator between the subject's respiratory system and the gas sensor, while the therapeutic gas flows through separate nasal passages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If therapeutic gas flow rate is increased to ensure adequate oxygen supply, then patient oxygenation is improved, but exhalation gas sampling accuracy deteriorates due to gas dilution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient oxygenationVSAvoidexhalation gas concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the respiratory support functions into separate anatomical pathways: therapeutic gas is delivered through nasal passages while exhalation gas is sampled through the oral cavity via the bite block. This spatial segmentation ensures that high-flow oxygen therapy and accurate gas concentration measurement can occur simultaneously without dilution interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bite block is positioned in advance to establish a dedicated exhalation gas sampling pathway before therapeutic gas insufflation begins. The sampling port and conduit are pre-configured to capture exhalation gas directly from the oral cavity, ensuring that the measurement system is ready to accurately detect exhalation gas concentrations even when high-flow therapeutic gas is subsequently administered through separate nasal routes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 gas sensor kit effectively measures exhalation gas concentration while reducing the effect of insufflated therapeutic gases, allowing for precise detection of carbon dioxide levels without interfering with the oxygen supply, thus enhancing the accuracy of respiratory state monitoring.

Implementation Method 1

a flow rate adjusting part that adjusts flow rate of the therapeutic gas flowing in a gas flow path from a supply source of the therapeutic gas to the subject to be lowered, wherein the flow rate adjusting part is a porous member, preferably including a sponge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

a gas sensor that measures the exhalation gas concentration of the subject

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas concentration detection:

Data Source

PatentEP3468465B1Gas sensor kit and device wearable on face
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 NIHON KOHDEN CORP
  • EP3468465B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3468465B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3468465B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gas sensor kit includes a gas sensor that measures a gas concentration of an exhalation gas of a subject, a gas introduction part that introduces the exhalation gas of the subject to the gas sensor and a gas supply unit that supplies a therapeutic gas to the subject. In the gas sensor kit, the gas supply unit includes a flow rate adjusting part that adjusts flow rate of the therapeutic gas.