Parallel Valve Gas Flow Control for Medical Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices and processes for connecting a patient-side coupling unit to a source or sink for gas, such as oxygen, struggle to reliably control the volume flow and pressure in inhalation and exhalation ducts, leading to potential oscillations and difficulties in following a predefined time course.
Innovation Solution
A connection device with a valve system comprising at least two valves connected in parallel, along with fluid guide units, allows for precise control of gas flow by setting control pressures at each valve, enabling closed-loop or open-loop control of volume flow and pressure to follow a predefined time course, reducing the risk of oscillations and improving control reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single valve is used to control gas flow, then the device structure is simple, but the control precision of volume flow and pressure is insufficient leading to oscillations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single valve control function into multiple parallel valves (first valve and second valve). Each valve can be independently controlled to adjust volume flow and pressure, eliminating oscillations and improving control reliability without creating a overly complex system architecture
2Manufacturing precision
If control pressure is set at a single valve, then the control system is simple, but the ability to follow predefined time course is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control by setting different control pressures at the first and second valves based on varying upstream conditions. The control system can dynamically adjust the control pressure at each valve to ensure the actual time course of volume flow or pressure follows the predefined time course accurately
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control pressure parameter at each valve independently based on upstream conditions. By adjusting the control pressure at the first and/or second valve, the system can adapt to varying upstream conditions and maintain precise control of volume flow and pressure to follow the predefined time course
Data Source
AI summary
A connection device and process connect a patient-side coupling unit to a source/sink of a gas including oxygen. The connection device includes a valve device with a first valve (40.1) and with a second valve (40.2). A source-side fluid guide unit establishes a fluid connection between the source or the sink and the valve device. A patient-side fluid guide unit establishes a fluid connection between the patient-side coupling unit and the valve device. The valves are connected in parallel and are arranged between the two fluid guide units. A gas flows from the source through the first and/or second valve to the patient-side coupling unit or through the first and/or second valves to the sink. A control pressure is set at each valve. As a result, the time course of the volume flow downstream of the valve device follows a predefined time course.