Modular Ventilator Segmentation for Maintenance Downtime Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical ventilators face challenges during repair periods, leading to equipment unavailability and increased costs, as well as mobility limitations due to connected air ducts and power supply dependencies.
Innovation Solution
A modular ventilator design featuring a turbine, inspiratory manifold, and expiratory valve, with interchangeable pneumatic and electrical modules, allowing for continued operation during module repairs and enhanced mobility with a rotatable screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical ventilator is designed as a single integrated unit, then it ensures system stability and reliability, but it causes extended downtime and increased costs during repair periods
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator is divided into separate functional modules including a pneumatic module and an electrical module, each housed in separate containment casings. This segmentation allows individual modules to be repaired or replaced independently, reducing overall system downtime while maintaining reliability through continued operation of functional modules.
2Reliability
If a mechanical ventilator is designed as a single integrated unit, then it ensures system stability, but it increases repair costs and reduces productivity during maintenance periods
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator is divided into separate functional modules including a pneumatic module and an electrical module, each housed in separate containment casings. This segmentation allows individual modules to be repaired or replaced independently, reducing overall system downtime while maintaining reliability through continued operation of functional modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design enables quick replacement of defective modules with functional ones, and the replaced modules can be sent for repair and returned to service. This recover-and-replace approach maintains hospital productivity by minimizing the time ventilators are out of commission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical ventilator is designed to be highly mobile, then it improves ease of movement and adaptability, but it may compromise system reliability and stability
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator is divided into separate functional modules including a pneumatic module and an electrical module, each housed in separate containment casings. This segmentation allows individual modules to be repaired or replaced independently, reducing overall system downtime while maintaining reliability through continued operation of functional modules.
4Device complexity
If the control screen is fixed in position, then it simplifies the device structure, but it requires continuous rotation of the ventilator to achieve proper visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The control screen is mounted on a rotatable support structure that allows it to be dynamically adjusted to various positions and orientations. This enables the screen to face different directions as needed, improving ease of operation without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 modular design reduces maintenance downtime and costs by enabling module replacement without halting the ventilator's operation, while the rotatable screen improves user accessibility and comfort, enhancing the ventilator's mobility and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a turbine for generating an air flow
Implementation Method 2
a pneumatic module, an electrical module and a main support structure which can allow for the assembly of said modules therein. The pneumatic module has a first containment casing inside which it comprises at least the turbine connected to an equipotential connector of the device, a first electronic board for controlling its operation, and the inspiratory manifold
Implementation Method 3
an expiratory valve for evacuating the air exhaled by the patient
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2.1~2.3
Figure 3
AI summary
Modular ventilator for assisted mechanical ventilation, comprising a turbine (1), an inspiratory manifold (2), and an expiratory valve (3), comprising a pneumatic module (N) having a first casing inside which it comprises the turbine (1) connected to an equipotential connector of the device, a first electronic control board (4), and the inspiratory manifold (2); an electrical module (E) having a second casing inside which it comprises one or more batteries (8), a single-board computer (SBC) (9) with a control interface and, a second electronic control board (10) connected to the first board (4) and to the control interface; a main structure (19) which can allow for the assembly of both modules, and; a screen (20) connected to the SBC (9), secured to the main structure (19) via securing means that allow it to rotate in two main directions.