nCPAP Flow Enhancer Fluidic Flip for Infant Breathing Effort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) devices for infants require a less invasive interface and reduce patient work-of-breathing by minimizing the resistance during inhalation and exhalation, as infants with under-developed lungs face increased effort due to constant airflow resistance during exhalation.
Innovation Solution
The nCPAP device incorporates a flow enhancer that redirects the jet flow to a jet impingement point, causing a 'fluidic flip' effect to reverse the jet stream during exhalation, reducing resistance and energy expenditure, and directs a portion of exhaled breath through an isolated pathway to minimize resistance further.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If constant airflow is delivered to the patient's airways, then positive airway pressure is maintained to prevent lung collapse, but resistance during exhalation increases the patient's work of breathing
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between inspiration and expiration pathways based on detected breath phase. During inspiration, the valve directs airflow to the patient; during exhalation, it redirects the patient's exhaled breath away from the jet flow path, reducing resistance without compromising positive pressure maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
A detection device serves as an intermediary between the patient's breathing and the valve control system. It detects breath phase (inspiration/exhalation) and transmits this information to the control circuit, enabling the system to adapt its airflow pathways accordingly
2Productivity
If jet flow is directed towards the patient's nares, then oxygen delivery is improved, but exhalation resistance increases due to opposition from incoming gas
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the airflow pathways into distinct inspiration and expiration routes. During exhalation, the valve redirects the patient's breath through a separate pathway that bypasses the jet flow, eliminating the harmful opposition while maintaining oxygen delivery during inspiration
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically switches between directing jet flow towards the patient (during inspiration) and redirecting exhaled breath away from the jet flow (during exhalation). This periodic action aligns with the patient's breathing cycle, optimizing oxygen delivery while minimizing exhalation resistance
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
This configuration decreases the patient's work-of-breathing by facilitating easier inhalation and reducing exhalation resistance, thereby lowering the overall energy required for breathing.
Implementation Method 1
The flow enhancer redirects the jet flow to a jet impingement point, causing a 'fluidic flip' effect to reverse the jet stream during exhalation
Implementation Method 2
This configuration readily induces vortex shedding during an expiratory phase, thus facilitating jet fluid flow disruption
Data Source
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AI summary
A nasal continuous positive airway pressure device for lowering patient breathing effort comprising: an inspiratory tubing in fluid communication with at least two nasal prongs; expiratory tubing; and a generator body coupled therebetween, the generator body comprising: at least two jets for receiving gas from the inspiratory tubing; and a flow enhancer for directing received gas, the flow enhancer comprising: a gas manager configured for channeling received gas towards a jet impingement point via at least two jet paths; a fluidic flip trigger configured for triggering a fluidic flip of channeled gas back towards the expiratory tubing by directing a first portion of exhaled patient breath towards the jet impingement point along a first pathway; and an isolated pathway manager for directing a second portion of the exhaled patient breath along a second pathway towards the expiratory tubing, the second pathway isolated from the first pathway.