Nasal Interface Jet Nozzles for Open Non-Invasive Ventilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation therapies for respiratory and breathing disorders are invasive, obtrusive, and limit mobility and activities of daily living, failing to provide non-invasive, unobtrusive respiratory support that allows normal breathing from ambient surroundings and is easily portable.

Innovation Solution

A non-invasive nasal interface with a jet pump catheter design that delivers pressurized gas through a nozzle near the nostrils, entraining ambient air to support respiratory function, using a control unit to synchronize gas delivery with breathing phases and adjust based on patient needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealing face mask or nasal mask is used for non-invasive ventilation, then mechanical ventilation support is provided, but the patient interface becomes obtrusive and limits mobility and activities of daily living

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical ventilation supportVSAvoidmobility and activities of daily living
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the sealing requirement from the patient interface by delivering ventilation gas through a catheter that does not seal the airway. The gas is delivered through a catheter inserted into the trachea, allowing ventilation support without an obtrusive sealing mask, thereby maintaining mobility and activities of daily living.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a catheter as an intermediary device to deliver ventilation gas directly to the lower airway. This catheter-based approach serves as a mediator between the ventilator and the patient's respiratory system, providing mechanical support without requiring a sealing face mask that would limit mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a sealing nasal mask is used for non-invasive ventilation, then mechanical ventilation is provided, but the patient cannot use their upper airway and the system is not mobile

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical ventilationVSAvoidupper airway usage and mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the requirement for upper airway sealing by delivering ventilation gas through a catheter inserted into the trachea. This extracts the ventilation function from the upper airway, allowing the patient to continue using their upper airway for natural breathing while receiving mechanical ventilation support, and enables mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the respiratory support function by delivering ventilation gas through a separate catheter pathway independent of the upper airway. This segmentation allows simultaneous use of the upper airway for natural breathing and the catheter for mechanical ventilation support, enhancing adaptability and mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a percutaneous transtracheal catheter is used for minimally invasive ventilation, then ventilation is provided with a penetrating catheter, but the patient must tolerate the transcutaneous catheter which may be visible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation deliveryVSAvoidpatient tolerance and cosmetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention places the catheter inside the trachea, nesting it within the patient's own airway structure. This internal placement conceals the catheter from external view, improving cosmetic appearance while maintaining reliable ventilation delivery through the tracheal pathway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter is designed as a flexible, thin-walled structure that can be comfortably inserted into the trachea. The flexible design reduces patient discomfort and tolerance issues, while the thin construction minimizes visibility through the skin, addressing both comfort and cosmetic concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 system provides efficient respiratory support by increasing airway pressure and lung volume, reducing the work of breathing, and allowing patients to breathe naturally while being mobile and unobtrusive.

Implementation Method 1

A jet nozzle (154) within the outer tube (102) delivers a jet of ventilation gas (107) into the outer tube (102)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJet: Jet

Implementation Method 2

The jet of ventilation gas (107) from the jet nozzle (154) entrains ambient air (113) through the aperture (108)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEntrainment: Entrainment

Data Source

PatentEP4218876B1Systems for non-invasive open ventilation with gas delivery nozzles within an outer tube
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 BREATHE TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP4218876B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4218876B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4218876B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a ventilation system comprising: a ventilator; and a nasal interface in fluid communication with the ventilator, the nasal interface comprising: an outer tube having an inlet, an outlet, and a jet pump throat between the inlet and the outlet, the outer tube being dimensioned to fit at least partially inside a patient's nostril; a nozzle for delivering gas from the ventilator into the inlet of the outer tube; and a breath sensing lumen terminating in a breath sensing port within the outer tube. The disclosure further relates to a nasal interface for delivering ventilation gas to a patient.