Normally Closed Inhalation Valve for Stable Ventilation Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inhalation valves in ventilation systems require significant technical effort for regulation and can fail to maintain a stable pressure control, leading to critical states due to defective actuation, such as a permanently open state in case of pump failure.
Innovation Solution
A device with an inhalation valve that includes a mechanical transmission device and a control pressure source, allowing the valve to be configured as normally closed, with a closing element that can be held in a closed position by the transmission device, even in the absence of control pressure, using a diaphragm for force transmission and a control pressure chamber to manage pressure ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional inhalation valve is used with pump-based control pressure generation, then the valve can be actuated to control breathing gas flow, but the system becomes complex and unreliable with risk of permanent open state upon pump failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional valve design by making the inhalation valve normally closed instead of normally open. The closing element is held closed by elastic force (spring or elastomer) and opens only when control pressure is actively applied. This inversion ensures that upon pump failure or control system malfunction, the valve automatically returns to its safe closed state, eliminating the risk of permanent open state while reducing complexity of fail-safe mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element incorporates elastic restoring force (spring or elastomer) that automatically returns the valve to closed position when control pressure is removed. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional actuators or complex control systems to ensure proper valve state, achieving reliable operation with minimal technical effort
2Ease of operation
If a normally open inhalation valve is used, then the valve remains open during inhalation, but it requires complex control mechanisms to ensure it closes properly and can remain permanently open upon actuation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional inhalation valve design by making it normally closed instead of normally open. The closing element is held closed by elastic force and opens only when control pressure is actively applied. This inversion ensures that upon pump failure or control system malfunction, the valve automatically returns to its safe closed state, eliminating the risk of permanent open state while reducing complexity of fail-safe mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates pressure sensing that detects chamber pressure changes and automatically adjusts valve position accordingly. When chamber pressure increases during inhalation, the system responds by modulating control pressure to the inhalation valve, creating a feedback loop that maintains stable pressure control and prevents runaway pressure build-up
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 configuration simplifies the operation of the inhalation valve, reduces technical effort for regulation, and ensures stable pressure control by automatically closing the valve during increased chamber pressure, preventing further pressure build-up and allowing for self-stabilizing pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanical transmission device 13 of the inhalation valve 10, which is connected via a mechanical connection element 14 to the closing element 12 in order to hold the closing element 12 in a starting position of the transmission device 13 in the closed position 320
Implementation Method 2
a control pressure source 130, such as a pump 130, for providing a control pressure PS in a control pressure chamber 15 for the transmission device 13 in order to move the transmission device 13 by the control pressure PS, especially by an increase in the control pressure PS, out of the starting position
Implementation Method 3
so that when a chamber pressure PK rises in the pressure chamber 110, the closing element 12 is moved, outside of the starting position of the transmission device 13 and especially against the control pressure PS, in the direction of the closed position 320
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1), for a ventilation system (100), includes an inhalation valve (10) with an inhalation opening (11) for flow (301) of breathing gas (300) into a pressure chamber (110) to provide breathing gas in the pressure chamber for ventilating a patient (200). A closing element (12) is arranged movably, to close the inhalation opening to flow in a closed position (320) and to at least partially release flow in an open position (310). A transmission device (13) is connected via a connection element (14) to the closing element, to hold the closing element in the closed position in a starting position of the transmission device, such that the inhalation valve is normally closed. A control pressure source (130) provides a control pressure (PS) in a control pressure chamber (15) for the transmission device to move the transmission device out of the starting position by the control pressure.