Mechanical Ventilator Valve Actuation via Breathing Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventilators are invasive, expensive, and pose a risk of infection due to the continuous flow of compressed oxygen and reliance on electronics, making them unsuitable for remote or resource-limited settings. Additionally, they disrupt fluid flow during transport ventilation, which can be detrimental to patients.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator design that uses a mechanical valve activated by patient breathing patterns to control airflow, eliminating the need for continuous oxygen flow and electronic control. This design includes a venturi nozzle, an ambient fluid aperture, a fluid port, and a pressure force multiplier that actuates the valve based on fluid flow and pressure changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current ventilators use continuous compressed oxygen flow and electronic control, then reliable oxygen delivery is achieved, but operational costs increase and they become unsuitable for remote locations
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator uses the patient's own breathing efforts to drive the ventilation process. The patient's inhalation creates negative pressure that opens the inlet valve, and exhalation creates positive pressure that closes it, eliminating the need for external power sources or continuous oxygen flow control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic control systems with a purely mechanical valve actuation mechanism. The inlet valve is opened by negative pressure during patient inhalation and closed by positive pressure during exhalation, using mechanical pressure differential instead of electronic sensors and actuators.
2Reliability
If current ventilators provide continuous oxygen flow, then adequate oxygen supply is ensured, but oxygen waste increases and operational costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator delivers oxygen in periodic cycles synchronized with the patient's breathing pattern. The inlet valve opens during inhalation to deliver oxygen and closes during exhalation, converting continuous oxygen flow into periodic delivery that matches physiological demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the patient's breathing movements to control oxygen delivery timing. The patient's inhalation automatically triggers oxygen flow through negative pressure activation of the inlet valve, eliminating the need for continuous flow regulation systems that waste oxygen.
3Ease of operation
If current ventilators rely on electronics and electrical power, then precise control is achieved, but they become unsuitable for locations with minimal electricity access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic control with mechanical pressure-actuated valves. The inlet valve responds to negative pressure during inhalation and positive pressure during exhalation, providing precise control through mechanical means that require no electricity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilator uses the patient's breathing mechanics to control the ventilation rhythm and valve actuation. No external power source or electronic control system is needed—the patient's respiratory movements directly drive the mechanical valve operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If transport ventilation uses complete detachment from one fluid source to transfer to another, then source switching is achieved, but fluid flow disruption occurs causing lung collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator maintains continuous fluid flow through the patient connection during source transitions. The outlet valve remains open throughout the switching process, and the new fluid source connects to the inlet port, ensuring uninterrupted flow that prevents lung collapse.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for source switching by maintaining the outlet valve in an open state and having the new fluid source ready to connect to the inlet port. This preliminary preparation ensures that flow continuity is preserved during the transition from one source to another.
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 ventilator reduces the risk of infection and operational costs by minimizing oxygen waste and eliminating the need for continuous electricity. It maintains continuous fluid flow during patient transport, preventing lung collapse and ensuring stable oxygen delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a venturi nozzle, an ambient fluid aperture in fluid communication with the venturi nozzle
Implementation Method 2
a pressure force multiplier that actuates the valve based on fluid flow and pressure changes
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an attachment device for maintaining positive fluid pressure, the attachment device comprising a body having a fluid outlet port and at least two positive pressure fluid inlet ports; wherein each of the at least two positive pressure fluid inlet ports is connectable to a respective fluid source; wherein each of the at least two positive pressure fluid inlet ports is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet port; wherein each of the at least two positive pressure fluid inlet ports comprises an attachment device mechanism for selectively starting and stopping a flow of fluid from the respective fluid source to the fluid outlet port, and wherein the attachment device mechanism comprises a valve moveable between an open valve position and a closed valve position. An attachment device, connector, and method of using an apparatus suitable for a ventilator is also disclosed.