Respiratory Humidifier Temperature Measurement via Lateral Infrared Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contactless temperature-measuring devices for respiratory humidifiers are difficult to manufacture and costly due to the complexity of producing a hollow body that projects into the flow channel, leading to increased flow resistance and reduced gas flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-measuring device with a flow channel featuring a measurement portion aligned on its lateral surface and a flow guide element that directs the breathing gas stream at a specific angle onto the measurement portion, allowing for effective heat transfer and accurate temperature detection without projecting into the flow channel, thus simplifying production and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a hollow body projects into the flow channel for temperature measurement, then contactless temperature measurement is enabled, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function is extracted from a complex three-dimensional hollow body and relocated to a simple two-dimensional lateral surface of the flow channel. The infrared detector measures temperature through the lateral surface without requiring any protruding structures into the flow channel, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining contactless measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature measurement interface is moved from a three-dimensional protruding hollow body into the flow channel to a two-dimensional lateral surface of the flow channel. This dimensional reduction eliminates the need for complex molding and assembly processes while preserving the infrared detection function through the channel wall.
2Measurement precision
If a hollow body projects into the flow channel, then temperature measurement is possible, but flow resistance increases and gas flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement interface is extracted from the flow path by utilizing the lateral surface of the flow channel instead of projecting a hollow body into the channel. This eliminates any obstruction to gas flow while maintaining the ability to perform contactless temperature measurement through the channel wall.
3Measurement precision
If a hollow body projects into the flow channel, then temperature measurement is enabled, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement functionality is extracted from a complex protruding structure and implemented through the lateral surface of the flow channel. This eliminates the need for secondary bonding processes or separate molds, allowing the flow channel to be produced as a single integrated component using standard extrusion or injection molding techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature measurement function is merged with the lateral surface of the flow channel structure itself, eliminating the need for separate protruding components. The infrared detector measures temperature through the channel wall, combining the flow channel and measurement interface into a single integrated structure that simplifies manufacturing.
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 solution enables reliable, cost-effective contactless temperature measurement in respiratory humidifiers by ensuring accurate temperature detection and minimizing flow resistance, facilitating efficient gas flow and easy manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
Pyrometers or radiation thermometers for contactless temperature measurement are known in the art. These operate on the basis of the fact that every body with a temperature above 0 K emits thermal radiation
Implementation Method 2
the flow channel comprises a flow guide element, which conducts the breathing gas stream at a previously determined inflow angle of preferably greater than 10° and less than 170° to the measurement portion
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature-measuring device for a respiratory humidifier (1) with a liquid container (5) is provided, wherein the temperature-measuring device comprises a flow channel (9) for breathing gas and an infrared detector (21), which is directed from the outside toward the flow channel (9) for the contactless detection of the temperature of the breathing gas in the flow channel (9), wherein the flow channel (9) comprises on its lateral surface (13) a measurement portion (15), which is aligned with the surrounding areas of the lateral surface (13) and toward which the infrared detector (21) is directed, wherein the flow channel (9) comprises a flow guide element (17), which conducts the breathing gas stream to the measurement portion (15) at a previously determined inflow angle of preferably greater than 10° and less than 170°.