Machine-Proximate Nebulizer Mixing Chamber for Rain-Out Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nebulized drug particles often rain-out on the inner walls of delivery tubes and nasal cannulas during high flow therapy, leading to inefficiency and patient discomfort due to large droplets, and significant drug wastage, especially with expensive medications.
Innovation Solution
A system with a mixing chamber and impacting cap that causes nebulized particles to coalesce into droplets on the inner walls, directing rain-out to a drainage port for recirculation to the nebulizer, reducing the likelihood of further rain-out and enabling efficient drug delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nebulized particles are delivered through a nasal cannula during high flow therapy, then the patient receives medication therapy, but rain-out occurs on the inner walls of the delivery tube and nasal cannula causing drug wastage and patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating the breathing gas to body temperature (37°C) before it enters the delivery tube. This thermal preparation prevents condensation of nebulized particles later in the delivery system, thereby reducing rain-out and drug wastage while maintaining reliable drug delivery to the patient
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heated breathing gas stream as an intermediary medium that carries the nebulized medication particles through the delivery tube. By controlling the temperature of this intermediary gas flow, the system prevents premature condensation of medication particles on tube walls, thus reducing drug wastage while ensuring delivery efficacy
2Speed
If high velocity flow is used in the nasal cannula to deliver breathing gas, then the gas changes direction efficiently, but nebulized particles impact the inner walls due to inertia causing rain-out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the breathing gas from ambient temperature to body temperature (37°C) through heating. This parameter change increases the kinetic energy of the gas molecules, allowing them to better sustain the nebulized particles in suspension during high velocity flow and direction changes, thereby reducing particle impact and rain-out while maintaining efficient gas delivery
3Quantity of substance
If a large quantity of nebulized drug is sent to the patient, then sufficient medication is delivered for treatment, but corresponding large amounts of rain-out accumulate in the delivery tube and nasal cannula causing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating action to the breathing gas before medication nebulization and delivery. By pre-heating the gas to 37°C, the system creates a thermal environment that prevents condensation of medication particles even when large quantities are delivered, thus allowing sufficient medication delivery without causing patient discomfort from condensed medicament accumulation
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
Enhances treatment efficacy by minimizing rain-out in delivery tubes, reducing patient discomfort, and minimizing drug wastage, particularly for expensive medications.
Implementation Method 1
a nebulizer (300) operable to aerosolize a medicament to transform the medicament from a liquid into an aerosol of medicament particles
Implementation Method 2
the mixing chamber and impacting cap cause a portion of the nebulized particles to coalesce on the inner walls
Implementation Method 3
causing a portion of the aerosol to coalesce into droplets in or on any of the settling volume, the inner wall of the mixing chamber, and the sloped inner surface of the impacting cap
Implementation Method 4
the inner wall of the mixing chamber and the sloped inner surface of the impacting cap being configured to direct rain-out resulting from the droplets toward the drainage port
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing respiratory therapy are disclosed. The system includes a nebulizer operable to aerosolize a medicament, a cylindrical mixing chamber, an impacting cap and a recirculation tube. The mixing chamber has an inlet port, an outlet port, an aerosol port in fluid communication with the nebulizer, and a drainage port. The inlet port receives a flow of breathing gas. The mixing chamber receives the aerosol via the aerosol port, entrains aerosol into the flow of breathing gas, and delivers the breathing gas entrained with aerosol to the outlet port. The impacting cap receives and coalesces a portion of the aerosol into droplets within the space defined by the mixing chamber and the impacting cap. The mixing chamber is also configured to direct rain-out resulting from the droplets to the drainage port. The system also includes a recirculation tube to return the rain-out to the nebulizer.