NO Accumulation Apparatus with Decoupled Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for circulatory disorders and chronic wounds lack effective methods for stimulating skin, providing relief from irritations, and maintaining moisture, necessitating an improvement in therapeutic approaches.
Innovation Solution
A NO-accumulation apparatus that dissolves gaseous NO in a liquid, using a container with an NO-gas dissolving unit and decoupling means to control the inflow and outflow of NO, allowing for the production of an NO-containing liquid for therapeutic use in baths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gaseous NO is dissolved in liquid for therapeutic use, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but control of NO inflow and liquid outflow becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the NO gas inflow control and liquid outflow control into a single integrated valve mechanism. When the valve opens, it simultaneously allows NO gas to enter the liquid and allows liquid to exit the container, ensuring coordinated operation and simplifying the control system while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a decoupling mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the NO gas supply system and the liquid delivery system. This mediator coordinates the timing and rate of NO inflow with liquid outflow, preventing pressure buildup while ensuring proper mixing and dissolution of NO in the liquid.
2Productivity
If pressure is increased to enhance NO dissolution, then accumulation efficiency is improved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic pressure control where the system automatically adjusts pressure based on real-time conditions. The pressure is increased during the NO dissolution phase to enhance accumulation efficiency, then automatically reduced before liquid removal to eliminate safety risks. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both productivity and safety throughout the operational cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic cycling between high-pressure dissolution mode and low-pressure removal mode. During the dissolution phase, elevated pressure maximizes NO accumulation; during the removal phase, pressure is reduced to safe levels. This periodic alternation allows the system to achieve high productivity during active dissolution while maintaining safety during liquid handling.
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 apparatus effectively accumulates NO in a liquid, creating a therapeutic solution that promotes vasodilation, antimicrobial activity, and wound healing by immersing body parts in an NO-enriched bath, addressing the limitations of existing treatments.
Implementation Method 1
an NO-gas dissolving unit for dissolving gaseous NO in the liquid to produce an NO-containing liquid
Data Source
AI summary
An NO-accumulation apparatus, method and use, comprising: a container (120) defining a cavity for accommodating a liquid (105), an inlet (150) for feeding the liquid into the container (120) and an outlet (151) for delivering the liquid from the container (120) to a bath unit; an NO-gas dissolving unit (140) for dissolving gaseous NO in the liquid (105) to produce an NO-containing liquid, wherein the NO-gas dissolving unit (140) is arranged in the container (120) and/or forms a part of the container (120); and an NO-gas port (110) in fluid communication with the NO-gas dissolving unit (140), wherein the NO-gas port (110) is adapted for coupling, particularly for releasably coupling, with an NO-gas supply, whereby the apparatus further comprises means for decoupling the inflow of NO to the liquid (105) within the container from the removal of the NO-containing liquid (NO-decoupling means), so that the removal of the NO-containing liquid is inhibited, when the NO is flowing into the liquid, and also the NO inflow is inhibited when the NO-containing liquid is removed from the container (105).