Inhalation Breathing Control Using Pressure-Driven Vapor Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breathing systems lack the ability for patients to control the administration of anaesthetic, analgesic, and/or sedative substances independently, posing safety risks due to the risk of overdose, and conventional pumps for adding small quantities of these substances to inhaled gas can be expensive.
Innovation Solution
A breathing system with a reservoir, vaporization means, and control means that allows patients to adjust the administration of substances through pressure reduction and flow control, enabling gradual addition of the substance to inhaled gas based on patient input, using mechanisms like needle valves and user controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pumps are used to add small quantities of substance to inhaled gas, then reliable delivery of 10-150 microlitres is achieved, but the system becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the substance delivery function from complex electronic pumps and replaces it with a simple pressure-driven flow system using basic mechanical components like pressure reduction valves and flow restrictors, achieving reliable delivery at lower cost
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure to drive substance flow through the vaporization system, replacing electrical pump mechanisms with a pressure-based fluid delivery system that is both reliable and cost-effective
2Ease of operation
If patients can control substance administration independently, then patient comfort and autonomy are improved, but the risk of overdose increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where pressure sensors monitor the pressure chamber and automatically adjust or limit substance delivery when thresholds are reached, preventing patient overdose while maintaining patient control through the user interface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system between the patient and the substance delivery mechanism, where a microprocessor and control algorithms mediate patient inputs to ensure safe dosing limits are never exceeded
3Productivity
If pressure reduction means enables gas loss at a rate less than pressurization rate, then gradual substance addition is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure reduction valve automatically self-regulates gas release based on pressure differential, maintaining a gradual substance addition rate without requiring complex electronic control systems or additional actuators
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 safe and controlled administration of anaesthetic, analgesic, and/or sedative substances, reducing the risk of overdose and providing cost-effective operation.
Implementation Method 1
the contained gas is linked to the substance in the reservoir to drive the substance to the vaporisation means
Implementation Method 2
vaporisation means for vaporising of the substance
Data Source
AI summary
A breathing system arranged for a patient to breath through continuously and to inhale a substance from during breathing, comprising: adding means for adding the substance to gas to be inhaled, and control means for pressurising contained gas. The adding means comprises: a reservoir for containing the substance in a liquid form; and vaporisation means for vaporising the substance. The contained gas is linked to the substance in the reservoir to drive the substance to the vaporisation means. The control means comprises a pressure reduction means for enabling loss of the pressurised gas at a rate that is less than a rate at which the control means can pressurise the gas.