Medical Oxygen Humidifier With Low-Flow Screen Atomization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical oxygen humidification devices require high oxygen flow rates to atomize water effectively, leading to large particle sizes and bacterial growth, and existing electric systems are complex and pose safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A medical oxygen humidification device using a semipermeable membrane, screen with adjustable mesh size, and pressure regulation to atomize purified water into oxygen-containing vapor, reducing bacterial growth and ensuring stable humidity levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high oxygen flow rate is used to atomize water, then water atomization is improved, but particle size becomes large and bacterial growth is promoted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous screen with controlled pore sizes (50-1000 meshes) as the atomization element. The porous structure allows oxygen to pass through and atomize water into fine droplets without requiring high flow rates, thereby achieving effective atomization while preventing large particle formation and bacterial growth in the water reservoir.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the atomization system by using a porous screen with specific pore size ranges (50-1000 meshes) instead of relying on high flow rates. This parameter change enables effective atomization at lower oxygen flow rates, reducing particle size and minimizing bacterial growth conditions.
2Productivity
If conventional atomization method is used, then water can be atomized, but device complexity increases due to flow regulator and pressure gauge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for flow regulators and pressure gauges by using a porous screen that passively atomizes water through its physical structure. The porous screen's inherent pore size control enables atomization without requiring external monitoring devices, thereby simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous screen performs the atomization function autonomously based on the oxygen flow passing through it, without requiring external control mechanisms. The screen's physical structure self-regulates the atomization process, eliminating the need for separate flow regulation and pressure monitoring components.
3Quantity of substance
If water is stored in container for extended period, then adequate water supply is maintained, but bacterial growth is promoted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous water atomization and consumption through the porous screen, preventing water from standing stagnant. The continuous flow of oxygen through the porous screen continuously atomizes water into the oxygen stream, eliminating the condition that promotes bacterial growth in stored water.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous screen with its fine pore structure (50-1000 meshes) continuously breaks down water into fine droplets that are carried away by oxygen flow, preventing water accumulation and stagnation. This continuous atomization process eliminates the breeding ground for bacteria while maintaining adequate water supply.
4Productivity
If ultrasound humidifying system is used, then water can be aerosolized into small droplets, but structure becomes complex and safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical ultrasound vibration system with a purely mechanical/pPhysical approach using a porous screen. The porous screen atomizes water through the physical passage of gas through its porous structure, eliminating electrical components and associated safety risks while maintaining effective aerosolization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the electrical ultrasound generation system from the humidification device, retaining only the essential porous screen structure. This extraction eliminates complex electrical components and safety concerns while preserving the water aerosolization function through the porous screen's physical structure.
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 stable humidity and reduced bacterial risk with adjustable atomization, maintaining humidity above 50% across varying oxygen flow rates without electrical components.
Implementation Method 1
a semipermeable membrane, a cover, a press plate and a screen. The container includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall in a height direction and defining an opening
Implementation Method 2
The screen is disposed in the lower space, includes a portion spaced apart from the surrounding wall of the container, and closer to the lower through hole than to the upper through hole, and has a number of meshes ranging from 50 to 1000
Implementation Method 3
The press plate is disposed in the upper space, is movable upward and downward in the height direction between the lower opening and the upper opening of the cover, and is in contact with an inner surface of the peripheral wall of the cover
Data Source
AI summary
A medical oxygen humidification device includes a container, a semipermeable membrane, a cover, a press plate and a screen. The container includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall and defining an opening, cooperating with the bottom wall to define a lower space, and formed with upper and lower through holes. The semipermeable membrane covers the opening. The cover removably encloses the lower space, includes a top wall and a peripheral wall surrounding the top wall, and is formed with upper and lower openings. The press plate is movable between the upper and lower openings. The screen is disposed in the lower space, includes a portion spaced apart from the surrounding wall, and closer to the lower through hole than to the upper through hole, and has a number of meshes ranging from 50 to 1000.