Heated Medical Gas Flow Control Without Separate Temperature Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices for procedures like laparoscopy and respiration face challenges in accurately controlling gas temperature without additional temperature sensors, which increases costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method using a mathematical model to estimate gas temperature at the patient-side end of a heating device, eliminating the need for additional temperature sensors by utilizing the heating wire as both a heating element and a temperature sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate temperature sensor is added to measure gas temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the temperature sensing function with the existing heating wire by utilizing its electrical resistance properties. The heating wire serves dual purposes: heating the gas and sensing its temperature through resistance measurements. This eliminates the need for separate temperature sensors and reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating wire is given multiple functions: it acts as both a heating element and a temperature sensor. By measuring the electrical resistance of the heating wire, the system obtains temperature information without requiring additional dedicated sensing components, thus achieving multi-functionality and reducing overall device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If a separate temperature sensor is added to measure gas temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temperature sensing capability with the existing heating wire structure. By using the heating wire's electrical resistance as the sensing mechanism, the invention eliminates the need for additional temperature sensor components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining accurate temperature measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating wire performs self-measurement of temperature through its own electrical resistance properties. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external sensing components and reduces overall system cost, as the existing heating element provides both heating and temperature sensing functions.
3Device complexity
If the heating wire temperature is used to estimate gas temperature, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to parameter dependencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the measured heating wire temperature (via resistance) is continuously compared with the estimated gas temperature from the mathematical model. The difference (observer error) is fed back to correct the model parameters and improve the accuracy of gas temperature estimation over time, thereby maintaining precision while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct physical temperature measurement with a mathematical model-based estimation system. By using thermal conduction equations and state-space modeling, the system estimates gas temperature from heating wire temperature data, substituting complex physical measurement with computational analysis to maintain precision while simplifying the physical device.
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
This approach allows for precise estimation and control of gas temperature, comparable to conventional methods using separate temperature sensors, while reducing costs and ensuring patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
the supplied gas is normally heated
Implementation Method 2
the measurement of the heating wire temperature can be made by a resistance measurement
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods for measuring and controlling the gas temperature in medical procedures. In embodiments of the disclosed methods a gas is supplied to a patient using a gas supply device and a supply line. A heating system heats the gas using a heating wire prior to the gas being provided to the patient. A controller electrically controls the heating power of the heating wire based on an estimated value of a temperature at an exit of the heating system obtained from a mathematical estimation system, wherein a resistance of the heating wire is an input variable of the mathematical estimation system.