Inhalation Therapy Device with Check-Valve Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inhalation therapy devices face issues with prolonged therapy duration, rainout, and loss of aerosol due to inefficient control of aerosol generation during inhalation and exhalation, leading to user discomfort and reduced adherence.
Innovation Solution
An inhalation therapy device with a check valve mechanism that maintains a consistent negative pressure in the reservoir by opening and closing based on threshold pressure values, ensuring complete aerosolization of the medicament and minimizing loss, using a simple configuration without electrical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the piezo crystal is continuously driven throughout the treatment time, then the liquid is completely aerosolized and delivered to the user, but the aerosol deposits on the inner walls of the device (rainout) and is lost without therapeutic effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by controlling the piezo crystal to oscillate only during inhalation phases and stop during exhalation phases. This is achieved through a control mechanism that detects user inhalation and triggers aerosol generation only when needed, preventing continuous aerosol production that causes rainout. The periodic activation ensures aerosol is generated on-demand when the user inhales, maximizing delivery efficiency while minimizing wall deposition losses.
2Loss of substance
If the piezo crystal is driven only during inhalation and stopped during exhalation, then aerosol loss is reduced, but the therapy duration is prolonged and user adherence is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-filling a chamber with aerosol before the user begins inhalation. This preliminary aerosol generation ensures that when the user starts inhaling, there is already a reservoir of aerosol available for immediate delivery, reducing the overall therapy time. The control mechanism activates the piezo crystal in advance to build up aerosol in the chamber, so that the actual treatment phase is shorter and more efficient.
3Productivity
If the reservoir is sealed to maintain negative pressure, then aerosolization efficiency is improved, but air trapped in the reservoir cannot escape causing pressure buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing a pressure relief valve at a specific location in the reservoir that allows selective pressure relief. The valve is positioned and designed to open only when pressure exceeds a certain threshold, allowing trapped air to escape locally without compromising the overall negative pressure environment needed for efficient aerosolization. This localized pressure relief mechanism maintains the beneficial negative pressure while preventing dangerous buildup.
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 device achieves a high delivery dose of aerosol with minimal loss, maintaining a consistent negative pressure to enhance therapy efficiency and reduce rainout, thereby improving user adherence and therapy effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator, which is coupled to the aerosol-generating membrane for vibrating the same, whereby the liquid, which is held in the reservoir and is supplied to a first side of the aerosol-generating membrane by gravitational force, passes through the apertures, an aerosol is generated at a second side of the aerosol-generating membrane opposite to the first side of the aerosol-generating membrane
Implementation Method 2
the liquid, which is held in the reservoir and is supplied to a first side of the aerosol-generating membrane by gravitational force
Implementation Method 3
a check valve, which is configured to open when an amount of negative pressure in the reservoir reaches a threshold upon use of the inhalation therapy device and to close when the amount of negative pressure drops below the threshold
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure refers to an inhalation therapy device. The inhalation therapy device comprises a housing body, a reservoir for holding a liquid, a membrane unit, and a valve. The membrane unit comprises an aerosol-generating membrane and an actuator. The aerosol-generating membrane is disposed in the housing body and comprises a plurality of apertures. The membrane is disposed so that, when liquid is held in the reservoir, the liquid is supplied to a first side of the aerosol-generating membrane by gravitational force. The actuator is coupled to the aerosol-generating membrane for vibrating the aerosol-generating membrane, whereby the liquid passes through the apertures, an aerosol is generated at a second side of the aerosol-generating membrane opposite to the first side of the aerosol-generating membrane, and a negative pressure builds up in the reservoir. The valve is configured to open when the amount of negative pressure in the reservoir reaches a threshold upon use of the inhalation therapy device, specifically upon vibration of the aerosol-generating membrane, and is configured to close when the amount of negative pressure drops below the threshold.