Modular Breathing Gas Separator for Size-Adaptable Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breathing gas separators are complex, costly, and difficult to adapt in size for different patient types, necessitating a simplified and economical structure that maintains patient safety and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A modular breathing gas separator unit comprising a gas separation means and a carrier means, allowing for configurable size adaptation and easy integration into existing systems, with disposable components and a simplified manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If breathing gas separators are manufactured with robust structure and multiple sub-components to ensure patient safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The breathing gas separator is divided into multiple detachable sub-components including a connector portion, a separator portion, and an adapter portion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability, and enables simplified manufacturing of individual parts with fewer material requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector portion is designed with universal coupling mechanisms that can interface with different breathing system components. The adapter portion can accommodate various tube sizes and configurations, making the separator adaptable to different clinical applications without requiring complete redesign, thus maintaining reliability across multiple use cases while reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If separators are designed as complete units with expensive raw materials to meet safety standards, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the separator into distinct functional portions, each component can be manufactured using cost-effective materials appropriate for its specific requirements. The connector portion can use rigid materials for structural integrity, while the separator portion can use flexible, inexpensive materials for gas separation, optimizing both safety and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design enables the separator to be manufactured as a disposable component with lower material costs. Each sub-component can be produced economically using standard manufacturing processes, and the entire assembly can be discarded after single use, eliminating the need for expensive, durable materials while maintaining patient safety through proper design of critical interfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If whole separator is replaced to adapt size for different patients, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is divided into modular portions that can be selectively replaced or reconfigured. The adapter portion specifically can be exchanged to accommodate different tube sizes for pediatric or adult patients, while the main separator body remains in place. This selective replacement reduces complexity compared to replacing the entire separator.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter portion incorporates flexible elements and adjustable features that allow dynamic adaptation to different patient sizes and tube configurations. This dynamic design enables a single base separator unit to serve multiple patient populations through simple adapter changes rather than requiring completely different separator units.
4Reliability
If separators use multiple assembled sub-components to meet safety demands, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
While the separator is divided into multiple functional portions, each segment is designed to be manufactured as a simple, single-piece component using standard molding or fabrication processes. The segmentation enables parallel manufacturing of components that can be quickly assembled through simple coupling mechanisms, actually simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to producing a single complex integrated unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector portion integrates multiple functions (mechanical coupling, sealing, alignment) into a single manufactured component that requires minimal assembly steps. By merging these functions into one piece rather than requiring multiple separate parts to be assembled, the manufacturing process is simplified while maintaining the reliability benefits of a multi-component design.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a modular breathing gas separator unit (5; 105; 205; 305) for breathing gases, the unit being connectable to a breathing system (1). The unit comprises a first module comprising a gas separation means (25, 125; 224, 225; 350) adapted to separate ventilator driving gas and patient inhalation and/or exhalation gases, and a second module comprising a carrier means (27; 127; 227; 327) adapted to support and connect the gas separator unit to an interface (101) in the breathing system. The disclosure also relates to the breathing system (1) comprising the unit.