Nasal Probe Inflatable Membrane for Respiratory Pressure Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory pressure measurement devices are invasive, causing discomfort and interfering with assisted breathing devices, and are not suitable for widespread use outside intensive care settings due to their high cost and requirement for experienced personnel.
Innovation Solution
A nasal probe with an inflatable membrane that can be selectively inflated to occlude the nostril for pressure measurement, allowing for non-invasive, continuous monitoring of respiratory pressure without the need for an oesophageal catheter, and can be easily removed for other procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an oesophageal catheter with balloon is used to measure respiratory pressure, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the complex oesophageal catheter system and relocates it to a simple nasal probe with pressure sensor. The catheter and balloon are completely removed, keeping only the essential pressure detection capability in a minimalistic nasal-mounted device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a nasal probe as an intermediary device that measures pressure at the nasal level rather than requiring direct oesophageal access. This intermediary approach provides sufficient measurement precision for respiratory mechanics while avoiding the complexity of oesophageal instrumentation.
2Measurement precision
If an oesophageal catheter is introduced through nasal or oral route, then measurement precision is improved, but patient discomfort and harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful invasive elements (catheter insertion through nasal/oral route) while preserving the measurement function. The pressure sensor is placed in the nasal probe, eliminating the need for deep catheter insertion and associated patient discomfort and risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, disposable nasal probe instead of a complex reusable catheter system. The nasal probe is inexpensive, single-use, and eliminates the need for sterilization and complex handling, thereby reducing patient discomfort and infection risks while maintaining measurement capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a nasal probe with inflatable membrane is used, then invasiveness is reduced, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic inflatable membrane in the nasal probe that can be selectively inflated to occlude the nostril during measurement and deflated to allow normal breathing. This dynamic adjustment enables accurate pressure measurement without continuous invasiveness, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable membrane operates periodically - inflated during measurement phases and deflated during breathing phases. This periodic action allows the system to achieve measurement precision only when needed while minimizing invasiveness during the majority of time when measurement is not occurring.
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 accurate and comfortable measurement of respiratory pressure with reduced invasiveness, allowing for prolonged use and multiple measurements without disrupting spontaneous breathing, and can be used in less intensive care settings with lower costs and simpler operation.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable membrane (cuff) associated with the support ring and configured to be selectively moved between: a first configuration, in which it is inflated and completely occludes the through opening
Implementation Method 2
a pressure transducer connected with the cannula; the pressure transducer being configured to measure a pressure differential between an inhalation and an exhalation phase
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An apparatus (10) for detecting and monitoring nasal pressure is described comprising: a nasal probe (15) adapted to be permanently placed inside a patient's nostril, wherein the nasal probe (15) comprises: a support ring (20) which defines inside it a through opening (25) and provided with an external surface (22) adapted to come into contact with the patient's nostril, a housing seat (30) defined within the external surface (22) of the support ring (20) for housing the end of a cannula (75) adapted to be connected to a pressure transducer (100), and an inflatable membrane (35) associated with the support ring (20) and configured to be selectively moved between: a first configuration, in which it is inflated and completely occludes the through opening (25), and a second configuration, in which it is deflated and leaves at least partially open the through opening (25). [fig.4]