Modular Pneumatic Line Ventilation Device Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation devices lack ease of maintenance, adaptability to different hose systems, and quiet operation, with complex designs that complicate component replacement and cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation device with a modular pneumatic unit designed as a removable pneumatic line that includes a support frame with components like the breathing gas drive, sound units, and measuring units, allowing for quick removal and replacement of components, and a unique cooling air path arrangement for effective cooling and noise reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the ventilation device uses a complex integrated design, then the device functionality is comprehensive, but the ease of maintenance and component replacement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidmaintenance ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation device is divided into modular components including a removable pneumatic line unit, separate cooling unit, and interchangeable hose system. This segmentation allows individual components to be maintained or replaced independently without affecting the entire device, directly resolving the contradiction between comprehensive functionality and ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the ventilation device uses a fixed hose system, then the device structure is simple, but the adaptability to different hose systems deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidhose system adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a universal connection interface that accepts different hose system types (single-limb, double-limb, leakage systems) through a standardized coupling mechanism. This allows the same device structure to adapt to multiple hose configurations without requiring complex internal modifications, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and hose system adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Power

If the ventilation device operates with high power components, then the ventilation performance is sufficient, but the noise level increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation performanceVSAvoidnoise level
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates sound insulation elements and acoustic damping materials as intermediary components between the high-power ventilation components and the external environment. These intermediaries absorb and attenuate noise while allowing the high-power components to operate at full capacity, thus maintaining ventilation performance while reducing noise emission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables quick and safe maintenance, adaptability to various hose systems without modifying the device, and operates quietly due to the modular design and sound insulation features.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling fan (17), wherein the cooling fan (17) generates a flow of cooled air within the housing (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

the pneumatic line (18) forms a respiratory gas path from a device inlet (19) to a device outlet (20) of the housing (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic Transport:

Data Source

PatentEP4108281B1Ventilation device with pneumatic train
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 LOWENSTEIN MEDICAL TECH SA
  • EP4108281B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4108281B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4108281B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device (10) for ventilation comprising a housing (11), a user interface (47) and a pneumatic unit (12), wherein the pneumatic unit comprises at least one of each of the components respiratory gas actuator (13), measuring unit (14), control unit (32) and sound unit (22), wherein the pneumatic unit is designed as a pneumatic line (18) which forms a respiratory gas path (B) from a device inlet (19) to a device outlet (20) of the housing, and wherein at least one component of the pneumatic unit or the pneumatic line is removable from the housing, wherein the housing has a top wall (24), at least one bottom wall (25) and at least two side walls (26), wherein at least one side wall is configured as an optional bottom wall (27), and at least one relatively heavy component, such as in particular the respiratory gas actuator, is arranged in the housing such that when the device is oriented on both the bottom wall,as well as on the side wall, which serves as an optional floor wall, where the heavy component creates a center of gravity.