Nasal Pressure Feedback for Flow Therapy Demand

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior art high flow therapy systems fail to accurately determine and meet individual patients' respiratory demand, leading to inadequate respiratory support, entrainment of room air, and discomfort due to incorrect gas flow rates.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that measure nasal passage pressure and resistance to determine the respiratory demand for each nostril, using equations such as Qoffset=SQR⁡(ABS⁡(PT)Rnasal) to calculate the offset flow rate, and a controller to adjust the gas flow rate to meet the patient's inspiratory and expiratory demands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gas flow rate is increased to meet respiratory demand, then respiratory support is improved, but risk of entraining room air increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverespiratory support adequacyVSAvoidroom air entrainment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously measures nasal passage pressure and uses this feedback to dynamically calculate and adjust the gas flow rate. The controller monitors the pressure parameter, determines respiratory demand in real-time, and adjusts the delivered gas flow accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents both inadequate support and excessive flow that would cause room air entrainment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the flow regime from fixed to variable by dynamically adjusting the gas flow rate parameter based on measured nasal passage pressure. The controller modifies the flow parameter in response to changing respiratory demand, allowing the system to adapt to varying patient needs and prevent room air entrainment while ensuring adequate respiratory support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If gas flow rate is adjusted to match individual respiratory demand, then therapy effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapy effectivenessVSAvoidmeasurement and control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical flow measurement and adjustment mechanisms with electronic pressure sensing and computational control. Instead of using mechanical flow meters and manual adjustment systems, the invention uses electronic pressure sensors combined with mathematical relationships and microprocessor control to determine respiratory demand and adjust gas flow, simplifying the overall system while improving precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically measuring nasal passage pressure, calculating respiratory demand using embedded mathematical relationships, and adjusting the gas flow rate without requiring external intervention. The controller autonomously manages the entire process from measurement to flow adjustment, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If nasal passage pressure is measured to determine respiratory demand, then flow rate accuracy is improved, but measurement difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverespiratory demand determination accuracyVSAvoidnasal passage pressure measurement difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses nasal passage pressure as an intermediary parameter to indirectly determine respiratory demand rather than directly measuring flow rate. The pressure measurement serves as a mediator that can be more easily and accurately obtained, and then converted to respiratory demand information through mathematical relationships, simplifying the measurement process while maintaining precision.

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

The solution ensures accurate determination and adjustment of gas flow rates to match individual respiratory demands, preventing entrainment of room air and reducing discomfort, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and comfort of high flow therapy.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a parameter associated with that nostril, the parameter being one or more of: respiratory demand of that nostril, indicative of respiratory demand of that nostril, or a parameter from which respiratory demand of that nostril can be derived

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure measurement:

Data Source

PatentUS20230012896A1Methods and apparatus for flow therapy

Publication Date: 2023.01.19 FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE LTD

AI summary

A method of estimating respiratory demand of a patient being administered flow therapy can include: administering a gas flow rate to the patient through both nostrils using a flow therapy apparatus with a patient interface for each nostril, measuring a parameter associated with that nostril, the parameter being one or more of: respiratory demand of that nostril, indicative of respiratory demand of that nostril, or a parameter from which respiratory demand of that nostril can be derived, determining respiratory demand (or parameter indicative of respiratory demand) for the patient from the nostril parameter for each nostril.