Pathogen Sensing Adaptor for Real-Time Breathing Circuit Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting pathogens in intubated patients are costly, complex, and time-consuming, often leading to reactive approaches that delay treatment, as they require acquiring and testing patient samples, which can be inefficient and inaccurate, especially for pathogens associated with respiratory droplets.
Innovation Solution
A pathogen sensing adaptor system that includes a conduit with removable cartridges and an optical sensor, which uses reagents on a testing strip to generate a colorimetric change when contacted with pathogens, allowing for real-time detection of pathogens within the breathing circuit of ventilators, providing immediate notification to medical personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pathogen testing methods are used, then pathogen detection can be performed, but the process becomes costly, complex, and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pathogen detection function from complex traditional laboratory testing and implements it directly within the breathing circuit using a simplified sensor adaptor. The adaptor contains essential detection components (sensor, reagent reservoir, flow channel) that can identify pathogens in real-time without requiring sample collection, transport, and complex lab analysis, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The breathing circuit is enhanced with multi-functional capabilities by integrating pathogen detection directly into the existing circuit. The sensor adaptor serves multiple functions: it allows normal breath passage, performs real-time pathogen detection, and provides immediate alerts, eliminating the need for separate sampling procedures and laboratory testing workflows
2Reliability
If traditional pathogen testing methods are used, then pathogen detection can be performed, but the time required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary pathogen detection continuously within the breathing circuit before symptoms develop or before traditional testing would be initiated. The sensor is positioned to detect pathogens in real-time as they pass through the circuit, enabling early intervention and treatment while eliminating the time delay associated with sample collection, transport, and laboratory processing
Solution Approach 2:
The pathogen detection operates continuously throughout the breathing circuit rather than through discrete, intermittent sampling. The sensor continuously monitors the breath stream for pathogens, providing uninterrupted detection capability that enables immediate identification and response, thereby eliminating the time loss inherent in traditional batch processing methods
3Measurement precision
If sampling procedures are used for pathogen detection, then pathogens can be identified, but the process becomes inefficient and inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pathogen detection function with the existing breathing circuit, eliminating the need for separate sampling procedures. The sensor adaptor is integrated into the circuit so that breath passage and pathogen detection occur simultaneously in the same location, ensuring that the detected pathogens are directly from the patient's respiratory system without contamination risks from sampling, transport, or handling
Solution Approach 2:
The breathing circuit performs self-diagnosis by continuously monitoring its own breath stream for pathogens. The integrated sensor allows the system to autonomously detect and alert the presence of pathogens without requiring external sampling interventions, laboratory processing, or manual analysis, thereby improving both accuracy and efficiency
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
Enables proactive and continuous pathogen detection in intubated patients, reducing hospitalization time and improving treatment efficacy by providing real-time data on pathogen presence and levels without disrupting the breathing circuit or increasing airway resistance.
Implementation Method 1
The testing strip also includes reagents that, when contacted with a pathogen in the interior space of the conduit, generate a colorimetric change on the testing strip. An optical sensor that is aligned with a test pad of the testing strip may generate a signal indicative of a presence or a level of the colorimetric change.
Data Source
AI summary
A pathogen detection system includes a pathogen sensing adaptor that detect pathogens present in the breathing circuit associated with a ventilated patient. A pathogen sensing adaptor may include a conduit, removable cartridges with testing strips, an optical sensor, and communication circuitry. Upon detecting a colorimetric change on the testing strip, the optical sensor generates a signal indicative of the presence and/or level of pathogens.