Hypercapnic Hyperpnoea for Anesthesia Reversal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for reversing the effects of inhaled anesthesia are slow, leading to prolonged recovery times and associated complications such as postoperative delirium and cognitive decline, especially in elderly patients.

Innovation Solution

The method involves increasing the subject's minute ventilation by breathing an above-ambient amount of carbon dioxide, while also increasing respiratory rate and tidal volume, to inhibit ion channel activity and restore electrical signaling in neurons controlling brain functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If increasing carbon dioxide levels in inhaled gases to elevate respiratory rate and tidal volume, then the rate of anesthetic removal is improved, but cellular acidity increases which can be harmful

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverate of anesthetic removalVSAvoidcellular acidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of respiratory ventilation (rate and tidal volume) to achieve faster anesthetic removal while controlling the level of carbon dioxide increase to avoid excessive cellular acidity. This involves optimizing the balance between ventilation parameters and pH levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements monitoring and control mechanisms to track pH levels and respiratory parameters, adjusting ventilation settings in real-time to maintain optimal conditions for anesthetic removal while preventing harmful acidity levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If using conventional methods to reverse inhaled anesthesia effects, then anesthesia is discontinued, but recovery time remains lengthy leading to complications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanesthesia reversal effectivenessVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary hypercapnic hyperpnoea treatment during the anesthesia discontinuation phase to proactively accelerate the removal of anesthetic agents from the central nervous system, preventing prolonged recovery and associated complications before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the respiratory parameters (increasing rate and tidal volume through controlled carbon dioxide exposure) to enhance the elimination rate of inhaled anesthetics, thereby reducing recovery time and improving the reliability of anesthesia reversal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If increasing minute ventilation to accelerate anesthetic clearance, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and control requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanesthetic clearance rateVSAvoidventilation control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic adjustment of ventilation parameters during the anesthesia reversal process, allowing the system to adapt minute ventilation levels based on real-time monitoring of patient response and anesthetic clearance, optimizing productivity while managing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 accelerates the reversal of anesthesia effects, reducing the incidence of post-surgical complications and shortening recovery times, thereby minimizing healthcare costs.

Implementation Method 1

The rate at which blood flows through the subject's brain may be increased by elevating the level (i.e, partial pressure) of carbon dioxide, or CO2, in the subject's blood

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCerebral vasodilation:

Implementation Method 2

the lungs remove inhaled volatile anesthetics from the blood and transport these anesthetics out of the subject's body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas exchange:

Implementation Method 3

increasing the minute ventilation of the subject in a controlled manner that increases extracellular acidification and that is tailored to inhibit ion channel activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExtracellular acidification:

Data Source

PatentUS20250025647A1Reactivation of and restoration of electrical signaling by neurons involved in controlling brain function

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 ANECARE LLC

AI summary

A system for reversing the effects of inhaled anesthesia reactivates and restores electrical signaling of neurons that control brain function of a subject. The system is used to administer increased inhaled carbon dioxide to a subject while causing an increase in the subject's respiratory rate and tidal volume and, thus, an increase in the subject's minute ventilation. The changes in the subject's respiration are tailored to increase extracellular acidification around neurons that control brain function, which have been affected by the inhaled anesthesia, and to inhibit ion channel activity (e.g., TREK-1 ion channel activity, etc.) to reactivate and restore electrical signaling by such neurons.