Variable Washout Vent Assembly for Respiratory Mask CO2 Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory treatment apparatuses for sleep disordered breathing, such as CPAP therapy, face challenges in efficiently venting carbon dioxide while maintaining efficient air delivery, often requiring fixed vent configurations that can lead to increased power consumption and patient discomfort due to claustrophobia and noise.
Innovation Solution
A variable area gas washout vent arrangement is introduced, utilizing gears, radial exhaust revolvers, or spherical diverters with actuators and controllers to dynamically adjust the venting area, allowing for precise control of gas flow and reduction of turbulence, noise, and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed vent configuration is used, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the power consumption increases and patient comfort deteriorates due to claustrophobia and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the fixed vent configuration into a variable area vent assembly that can dynamically adjust its opening size. The vent assembly includes a movable component that changes the effective venting area based on operational requirements, allowing the system to optimize power consumption while maintaining reliability through controlled adaptability rather than complete fixation or full variability
2Device complexity
If a fixed vent configuration is used, then the structure is simple, but patient comfort deteriorates due to claustrophobia and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The vent assembly incorporates dynamic adjustment capability that allows the opening area to vary based on breathing phase and pressure requirements. This reduces patient discomfort by controlling turbulence and noise during different operational conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of a single movable component rather than complex multi-element mechanisms
3Use of energy by moving object
If a variable area vent assembly is used, then power consumption is reduced and patient comfort is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a variable area vent assembly where a single movable component changes the effective opening size dynamically. This approach achieves power consumption reduction and patient comfort improvement through controlled variability while limiting device complexity by using a straightforward mechanical adjustment mechanism rather than complex electronic or multi-component systems
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a variable area vent assembly is used, then turbulence and noise are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent assembly uses dynamic adjustment of the opening area to control gas flow characteristics. By varying the opening size according to operational conditions, the system reduces turbulence and noise generated during different breathing phases while maintaining relatively simple construction through the use of a single adjustable component rather than complex flow control mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A control system provides automated control of gas washout of a patient interface, such as a mask or nasal prongs. A gas washout vent assembly of the system may include a variable exhaust area, such as one defined by gears, radial exhaust revolvers and/or flow diverters for a conduit having a variable gas passage channel. The vent assembly may be attached substantially near or included with the patient interface. An actuator of the assembly, such as a solenoid, motor or voice coil, manipulates the vent assembly. The actuator may be configured for control by a processor to change the exhaust area of the vent assembly based on various methodologies including, for example, sleep detection, disordered breathing event detection and/or leak detection.