Nitric Oxide Delivery Apparatus with Automatic Purge and Disconnection Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nitric oxide (NO) therapy in pulmonary hypertension treatment faces challenges due to the formation of toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO2) when air enters the delivery conduit, and disconnections of nasal cannulas can interrupt therapy and lead to NO2 formation, necessitating effective detection and purging methods to prevent exposure.
Innovation Solution
A nitric oxide delivery apparatus that detects the connection status of breathing apparatuses, provides alerts for disconnections, and automatically purges the conduit during patient expiration when an elapsed time between gas deliveries exceeds a predetermined period to prevent NO2 formation, using a valve, sensor, and control system to manage gas flow and timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If nitric oxide is delivered through a nasal cannula with time between pulses, then therapeutic gas can be administered effectively, but nitrogen dioxide forms due to reaction between nitric oxide and oxygen in the conduit
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary purging of the nasal cannula before delivering nitric oxide pulses, removing oxygen that would otherwise react with nitric oxide to form nitrogen dioxide. This preliminary action prevents the harmful reaction before it can occur during therapy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous flow or overlapping pulses of nitric oxide therapy without complete interruption between doses, reducing the time window for nitrogen dioxide formation while ensuring continuous therapeutic benefit to the patient.
2Ease of operation
If nasal cannula disconnection is allowed during therapy, then patient comfort and mobility are improved, but air enters the conduit and causes nitrogen dioxide formation
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the nasal cannula connection status and provide feedback to the control system. When disconnection is detected, the system automatically responds by purging the conduit or adjusting delivery parameters to prevent nitrogen dioxide formation, then resumes therapy upon reconnection.
3Reliability
If purging is performed frequently to prevent nitrogen dioxide, then safety is improved, but therapeutic gas delivery time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial purging or targeted purging only in specific conduit segments where nitrogen dioxide is most likely to form, rather than complete system purging. This reduces the time loss while maintaining adequate safety by addressing the critical contamination zones.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are methods for safer nitric oxide delivery, as well as apparatuses for performing these methods. The methods may include detecting the presence or absence of a nasal cannula, and stopping the delivery of nitric oxide or providing an alert if the cannula is disconnected. The methods may also include purging the nasal cannula if it is reconnected after a disconnection or if it is replaced by a new cannula. Other methods pertain to automatic purging of the delivery conduit if the elapsed time between successive deliveries of therapeutic gas exceeds a predetermined period of time.