Multi-person ventilator with segmented bellows and UV sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The shortage of ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the need for a device that can provide individual respiratory support to multiple patients safely and efficiently, as sharing a single air supply poses significant medical risks.
Innovation Solution
A multi-person ventilator system with multiple bellows, each with its own input and output valves, arranged in levels and driven by a common or separate motors, capable of delivering oxygenated gas to multiple patients with individually controlled flow rates, and optionally incorporating UV sterilization and portability features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single ventilator is shared by multiple patients, then the number of patients receiving ventilation support increases, but the risk of cross-contamination and medical safety risks increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The single ventilator is segmented into multiple independent ventilation circuits, each with its own bellows, valves, and gas delivery system. This allows multiple patients to receive ventilation through separate channels while sharing a common oxygen supply, thereby increasing patient capacity while preventing cross-contamination between patients.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilator system is designed with universal components that can serve multiple functions. The common oxygen supply serves all patients, while the modular bellows and valve assemblies can be configured for different patient needs. This multi-functionality allows one ventilator unit to safely serve multiple patients simultaneously.
2Reliability
If multiple ventilators are provided for multiple patients, then patient safety and individualized care are improved, but the cost and resource requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple ventilation circuits are merged into a single integrated ventilator unit. The common oxygen supply, control system, and structural housing are shared resources, while the bellows and valve assemblies remain functionally independent. This merging reduces the total number of separate ventilator units needed, lowering cost and complexity while maintaining patient safety through circuit independence.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If individual bellows and valves are provided for each patient, then cross-contamination is prevented, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented into modular bellows and valve assemblies that can be manufactured independently using standardized processes. Each module is designed for easy assembly and disassembly, allowing contamination prevention through individual component replacement without requiring complex manufacturing of entirely separate ventilator units.
4Productivity
If multiple levels of bellows are arranged around a central gear, then the number of patients served increases, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows are arranged in multiple vertical levels around a central gear, transitioning from a horizontal to a vertical configuration. This three-dimensional arrangement maximizes patient capacity within a compact footprint, allowing more bellows to be packed into the available space without significantly increasing the overall volume of the ventilator unit.
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 concurrent ventilation of up to 40 patients with fresh, UV-sterilized oxygen, reducing the strain on medical resources and minimizing contamination risks while being modular, easy to operate, and relatively inexpensive.
Implementation Method 1
Each bellows has its own input and output valves, and intermittently pumps breathable oxygen or oxygenated gas to corresponding a gas line
Implementation Method 2
UV light can be configured to irradiate gas passing from the bellows to individual patients through the gas lines
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilator uses teeth of gear to operate up to eight or more bellows. A common drive shaft can be used to operate a stack of multiple such gears, which collectively operate up to 40 or more bellows. Valves can be used to control flow from different ones of the bellows to individual recipients.