Non-Invasive Infant Ventilation Aid with Flow-Path Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-invasive CPAP ventilation methods for premature infants face challenges in accurately detecting spontaneous breathing activity due to continuous pressure loss from mask or tube leaks, making it difficult to synchronize machine-generated ventilation cycles with the infant's breathing, and the use of abdominal probes is avoided due to skin injuries and allergic reactions.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation aid system that includes a pressure measuring device and a flow sensor to detect pressure and flow signals in the ventilation air, allowing for the detection of spontaneous breathing activity without probes, and a ventilator with a control device to adjust ventilation cycles based on these signals, ensuring consistent overpressure and accurate synchronization with the infant's breathing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive CPAP ventilation is used with masks or tubes, then invasive procedures are avoided, but reliable detection of spontaneous breathing activity becomes difficult due to continuous pressure loss from leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach by placing a pressure sensor in the ventilation air flow path between the mask and the patient's airway. This intermediary position allows detection of breathing-related pressure changes without requiring direct contact with the patient's skin or relying on leak-prone mask seals, thus resolving the contradiction between non-invasive operation and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical probe-based detection system with a pneumatic sensing system that measures pressure variations in the ventilation air flow. This substitution eliminates the need for abdominal probes that cause skin injuries while maintaining the ability to detect spontaneous breathing activity through pressure signal analysis
2Measurement precision
If abdominal probes are used to detect breathing activity, then spontaneous breathing detection is reliable, but skin injuries and allergic reactions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the problematic abdominal probe and relocates it to the ventilation air flow path. By taking out the pressure sensing function and placing it in the air flow between the mask and patient, the system maintains reliable breathing detection while eliminating direct skin contact and associated harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation air itself serves as an intermediary medium for measurement. Instead of contacting the patient's skin directly, the system uses the breathable air flow as a carrier to transmit pressure information about spontaneous breathing activity, thus avoiding skin injuries while maintaining measurement reliability
3Ease of operation
If masks or tubes are used for non-invasive ventilation, then invasive procedures are avoided, but continuous pressure loss occurs making breathing detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement function from the ventilation delivery system by placing a dedicated pressure sensor in the air flow path. This segmentation allows the mask to maintain its simple non-invasive design while the sensor provides reliable breathing detection independent of mask seal quality, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor positioned in the ventilation air flow acts as an intermediary that decouples the detection reliability from the mask seal quality. By measuring pressure changes in the air flow rather than relying on mask seal integrity, the system maintains reliable breathing detection while preserving the ease of non-invasive operation
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
Enables reliable detection of spontaneous breathing in premature infants without skin contact, preventing excessive airway pressure and ensuring precise synchronization of ventilation cycles with the infant's breathing, thereby improving oxygen delivery and reducing the risk of complications.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure measuring device (17) which is designed to generate a pressure signal characterizing the pressure in the area of the contact part (2)
Implementation Method 2
at least one sensor (12) which is disposed in the ventilation air flow (10) and which is configured to detect a measuring parameter characterizing the ventilation air flow (10) and to generate a corresponding flow signal
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Ventilation aid (1) for the non-invasive ventilation of premature infants (F), wherein the ventilation aid (1) comes into contact with the nose/mouth area (3) of the premature infant (F) with a contact part (2), and wherein the ventilation aid (1) comprises at least one mixing chamber (4) and a ventilation hose system (6) that can be connected to a controllable ventilator (5), wherein the ventilation hose system (6) comprises at least one feed line (7) for supplying fresh ventilation air to the premature infant (F) and at least one returning line (8) for leading off used-up ventilation air from the premature infant (F), and wherein spontaneous breathing of the premature infant and the supplying and/or leading off of the ventilation air within the ventilation aid ( 1) defines a ventilation air flow ( 10). The ventilation aid (1) comprises a pressure measuring device (17) configured to generate a pressure signal characterizing the pressure in the area of the contact part (2).