Mask Assembly with Adjustable Nasal Cannula for Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventilator systems for patients requiring increased pressure and functional gas exchange struggle with monitoring breathing patterns and maintaining low volume flow, leading to inefficiencies and discomfort due to high gas consumption and nasal tract irritation.
Innovation Solution
A mask assembly with an adjustable nasal cannula assembly and holding means that allows for adjustable pressure support, enabling continuous rinsing and efficient gas distribution, while maintaining a sealing effect to achieve high pressure levels and reduce nasal dead space inhalation of CO2.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-flow therapy is used to ventilate patients, then gas exchange is improved and carbon dioxide rebreathing is reduced, but respiratory monitoring becomes impossible and nasal airways become irritated
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the ventilation function by providing separate gas supply paths: one for the breathing mask and another through the nasal cannula. This allows the main ventilation to occur through the mask while a separate monitoring path can detect respiratory activity without being overwhelmed by high gas flows, thus resolving the contradiction between effective gas exchange and monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The breathing mask serves as an intermediary device that allows both high-flow ventilation and monitoring to coexist. The mask creates a controlled environment where gas exchange is optimized while still permitting detection of respiratory patterns through pressure sensors or flow sensors integrated into the mask structure, preventing direct irritation of nasal airways while maintaining monitoring capability
2Reliability
If CPAP devices are used to provide constant pressure support, then airways remain open and gas exchange area increases, but anatomical dead spaces are not flushed and breathing patterns cannot be adequately monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic high-flow bursts through the nasal cannula during the respiratory cycle. During inspiration, increased flow rates flush the anatomical dead spaces, while during expiration, the flow is reduced to allow monitoring. This periodic action maintains airway patency through constant positive pressure while periodically clearing dead spaces of accumulated CO2, resolving the contradiction between sustained airway opening and dead space flushing
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts gas flow rates based on detected breathing patterns. When a breath is detected, flow is increased to flush dead spaces; between breaths, flow is reduced to enable monitoring. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain airway patency while efficiently flushing dead spaces without continuous high gas consumption, addressing both requirements simultaneously
3Reliability
If high gas consumption is used to flush nasal dead spaces, then carbon dioxide rebreathing is reduced, but nasal tract irritation increases and gas costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different gas flow characteristics to different regions: high-velocity flow is directed specifically at the nasal dead spaces through the cannula to flush CO2, while the main breathing mask provides gentler, more stable flow to prevent nasal tract irritation. This localized differentiation allows effective dead space flushing without subjecting the entire nasal tract to irritating high-velocity flows, resolving the contradiction between CO2 prevention and irritation reduction
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 system effectively maintains a specified inspiratory pressure, flushes nasal dead spaces with fresh gas, and reduces nasal tract irritation, allowing for improved patient comfort and efficient ventilation while monitoring breathing patterns.
Implementation Method 1
The breathing mask is designed to create a sealing effect between the mask volume and the surroundings of the breathing mask
Implementation Method 2
The nasal cannula assembly has a tube for conducting the ventilation gas through an opening in the breathing mask or past the breathing mask towards the patient
Implementation Method 3
The holding means may comprise a fastening means that is adjustable between a first functional state for fixing the tube in a fixed holding position on the breathing mask
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a mask assembly (10) for a ventilation apparatus (100) for ventilating a patient (11), comprising: a respiratory mask (12) to be positioned over the mouth (13) and over the nose (14) of the patient (11); a nasal cannula assembly (15) for conducting a ventilation gas into the nose (14) of the patient (11); and a holding means (16) for holding the nasal cannula assembly (15) on the respiratory mask (12). The invention also relates to a holding means (16) for the mask assembly (10), a ventilation apparatus (100) comprising the mask assembly (10), and to a method for adjusting the mask assembly (10).