High-Flow Oxygenation Control During Difficult Airway Intubation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing respiratory gas therapy systems struggle to maintain adequate oxygen saturation levels during intubation and anesthesia procedures, particularly in patients with difficult airways, leading to prolonged pre-oxygenation interruptions and increased health risks.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing high flow gas delivery with a controller to monitor and adjust oxygen and nitrogen concentrations based on patient-specific parameters, ensuring continuous oxygenation and CO2 removal, including features like nasal cannulas and humidified gas delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional face mask pre-oxygenation is used, then oxygen saturation can be increased to 100%, but the intubation process must be interrupted multiple times for difficult airways, increasing procedure time and health risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen saturation maintenanceVSAvoidintubation procedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by delivering high flow oxygen therapy before intubation to pre-oxygenate the patient's lungs, creating an oxygen reservoir that can sustain the patient during the intubation procedure without requiring interruptions to reapply face masks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables continuity of useful action by providing continuous high flow oxygen delivery through a nasal cannula during the entire intubation process, eliminating the need to interrupt the procedure to reapply face masks and maintaining continuous oxygenation support

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Reliability

If high flow gas delivery is implemented, then continuous oxygenation is achieved, but device complexity increases with controllers and monitoring systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous oxygenationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller provides multi-functionality by simultaneously monitoring patient oxygen saturation levels, regulating high flow oxygen delivery, and providing alarm functions, consolidating multiple functions into a single integrated device that manages the entire oxygenation support process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the patient's oxygen saturation levels and using this information to adjust the high flow oxygen delivery, ensuring that the patient receives appropriate oxygenation support while automatically adapting to changing patient conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If pre-oxygenation is extended for difficult airways, then oxygen saturation is maintained, but procedural efficiency decreases due to multiple interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen saturation bufferVSAvoidintubation procedure efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by establishing adequate oxygen saturation levels before intubation begins, creating a sufficient oxygen buffer that allows the procedure to proceed without interruptions even in difficult airway cases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains procedural efficiency by providing continuous oxygenation support throughout the entire intubation process, eliminating the need to interrupt the procedure to reapply face masks and allowing the healthcare provider to focus on completing the intubation without breaks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful 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 system effectively maintains blood oxygen saturation within acceptable ranges, reduces carbon dioxide buildup, and minimizes interruptions during intubation and anesthesia, enhancing patient safety and procedural efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element and a sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3242703B1Flow therapy system
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE LTD
  • EP3242703B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3242703B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3242703B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

There is disclosed system for oxygenating a patient in relation to anaesthesia using high flow gas delivery. The system has a flow source, and a controller for determining oxygenation requirements of the patient before or during anaesthesia. A method of oxygenating a patient in relation to anaesthesia using high flow gas delivery is also disclosed. The method determines oxygenation requirements of the patient before or during anaesthesia.