Parallel Valve Gas Dosing for Anesthesia Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical gas delivery systems for ventilated and anesthetized patients lack precise control over gas quantity and concentration, leading to inefficiencies in gas usage and potential waste, especially when transitioning patients from high to low concentrations of medical gases.
Innovation Solution
A device with parallel regulating means, such as solenoid valves, controlled by a unit that introduces gas pulses during inhalation phases, allowing for precise adjustment of gas volume and concentration, minimizing waste and ensuring optimal absorption by the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If high concentrations of medical gas are supplied by the gas source, then the gas source can be used for longer periods, but precise dosing of small amounts of gas becomes difficult and waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gas delivery system into multiple parallel channels, each with its own control valve. This segmentation allows independent control of different gas concentrations and flow rates, enabling precise dosing while maintaining efficient use of high-concentration gas sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the opening degree of control valves to vary gas flow rates in real-time. This dynamic control enables precise dosing of small amounts of medical gas while maintaining the ability to use high-concentration gas sources efficiently, resolving the contradiction between dosing precision and gas source utilization.
2Ease of operation
If control valves are used to adjust medical gas flow, then gas delivery can be controlled, but the amount of gas delivered is limited by valve design and pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple control valves in parallel configurations, each capable of independent adjustment. This segmentation allows the system to overcome individual valve limitations and achieve a broader, more versatile gas delivery range while maintaining ease of operation through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to universally manage multiple gas sources with different concentrations and flow capabilities. By integrating multiple valves and control algorithms, the system achieves adaptability across various clinical scenarios while maintaining user-friendly operation.
3Reliability
If large amounts of medical gas are introduced into the breathing circuit, then adequate therapeutic doses can be delivered, but gas waste and accumulation in the circuit increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts medical gas delivery based on real-time patient breathing parameters and therapeutic requirements. By controlling valve opening degrees and timing, the system delivers adequate therapeutic doses while minimizing gas waste and preventing circuit accumulation, resolving the contradiction between therapeutic reliability and gas conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor patient response and circuit conditions. This feedback enables precise adjustment of gas delivery rates, ensuring therapeutic efficacy while minimizing waste by delivering only the necessary amount of medical gas.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device and method for supplying at least one medical gas (NO) to a patient (14) receiving artificial respiration and being anesthetized with the aid of an anesthesia machine (502). The anesthesia machine (502) produces a respiratory-gas flow (O2/N2) in a feed line (24). Gas pulses of the medical gas (NO) are fed to said respiratory-gas flow. The gas pulses are produced and introduced into a patient feed line (30) with the aid of at least two regulating elements (54 to 60) arranged in parallel. First, the starting time of at least one future inhalation phase of the patient (14) is determined. Subsequently, the regulating elements (54 to 60) are controlled with the aid of a control unit (48) in such a way that a gas pulse is introduced into the patient feed line (30) at the determined start of the future inhalation phase.