Modular Respiratory Apparatus Segmentation and Self-Service Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory treatment apparatuses for conditions like obstructive sleep apnea and sleep disordered breathing lack modular design efficiency, making it difficult to upgrade or add functionality such as alarm systems, and may not ensure proper attachment or detachment of modules, affecting user safety and ease of maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modularized respiratory treatment apparatus with separable modules, including a separable alarm module, flow generator module, and humidifier module, that can be easily attached or detached, with a tamper-resistant locking mechanism and intelligent alarm system using a processor for activating alarms based on detected conditions, ensuring safe operation and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If respiratory treatment apparatus uses integrated design, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability and ease of maintenance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The respiratory treatment apparatus is divided into separate modules including a flow generator module, alarm module, humidifier module, and patient interface module. Each module can be independently attached or detached from the system via coupling mechanisms, allowing the apparatus to maintain structural stability when assembled while providing adaptability through selective configuration and easy maintenance through individual module replacement.
2Ease of repair
If respiratory treatment apparatus uses separable modules, then ease of maintenance and upgrading is improved, but reliability of connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanisms between modules are designed with pre-positioned alignment features and guide structures that ensure proper positioning before final engagement. The latching mechanisms are configured to automatically engage when modules are brought together, providing reliable connections without requiring complex manual assembly procedures, thus maintaining both ease of maintenance and connection reliability.
3Reliability
If respiratory treatment apparatus uses locking mechanism, then reliability of module attachment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanisms are designed to automatically engage and lock when modules are coupled together, without requiring manual intervention or additional tools. The alignment features guide the modules into proper position, and the latches self-engage through spring-loaded or cam-based mechanisms, providing reliable attachment while minimizing added complexity and maintaining user-friendly operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A modularized respiratory treatment apparatus provides various respiratory pressure treatments. The apparatus may be formed by discrete connectable modules such as a flow generator module, alarm module and/or humidifier module. Each module may include its own external casing or housing to independently retain or enclose the respective components that serve the function of the module. Different modules may be adapted with different components and functionalities and may be readily coupled using standardized gas and electrical connection configurations that have flow and communication paths that extend through the modules. When coupled, operation of the respiratory treatment apparatus may be controlled by detection of different modules, such as the alarm module that generates visual and/or audible alarms based on detected conditions, so as to selectively enable or disable different respiratory treatments. The discrete modules of the medical treatment apparatus may include tamper resistant locking mechanisms to impede unauthorized separation of some modules.