Portable Piston Ventilator Canister for Emergency Respiratory Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ventilators are large, expensive, and require specialized training, making them difficult to use outside of hospital settings, and their high cost limits their availability in emergency situations where patients need respiratory support.
Innovation Solution
A portable piston resuscitator and ventilator system comprising a canister and a body, where the canister is removable and can operate independently with a motor-driven piston for delivering air and gases through an airway circuit, controlled by a user interface and power source, allowing for adjustable settings such as pressure, I:E ratio, and breaths per minute.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ventilators are used, then reliable respiratory support is provided, but the device size is large and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator is divided into separate functional modules: a canister containing the piston and cylinder assembly, a body housing the control electronics and power source, and interchangeable airway circuits. This modular segmentation allows the critical ventilation function to be separated from bulky supporting systems, enabling portable operation while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston-driven ventilation mechanism is extracted from the traditional ventilator body and placed into a separate canister that can be removed and used independently. This extraction allows the core ventilation function to operate without the full traditional ventilator system, significantly reducing the weight and size of the portable unit while preserving the essential respiratory support capability.
2Reliability
If traditional ventilators are used, then adequate ventilation function is provided, but the device cost is high and accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The canister is designed as a disposable or limited-use component that can be manufactured at lower cost using simpler materials and assembly processes. After a certain number of uses or time period, the entire canister is replaced rather than repaired, reducing the need for expensive maintenance and specialized service infrastructure, thereby lowering overall system cost while maintaining ventilation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The canister design uses simplified geometries and standard components that can be manufactured using conventional processes, creating a cost-effective copy of the essential ventilation function without replicating the complex features of traditional hospital ventilators. This allows adequate ventilation performance to be achieved at a fraction of the cost of conventional systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ventilators are used, then comprehensive control features are available, but the operation complexity increases and training requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The canister is designed to be universally compatible with different airway circuits and adaptable to various ventilation scenarios (adult, pediatric, neonatal). The single canister unit provides multiple functions including different breathing modes, adjustable parameters, and compatibility with various patient interfaces, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices while maintaining operational simplicity through a unified control approach.
4Stability of the object's composition
If traditional ventilators are used, then stable performance is maintained, but the device portability is reduced and mobility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator system transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic, adaptable system where the canister can be independently positioned, removed, and reconfigured. The motor-driven piston provides dynamic control of breath delivery, and the modular architecture allows the system to adapt to different clinical environments and patient needs while maintaining stable performance through controlled mechanical actuation.
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 effective and portable respiratory support for patients, facilitating ventilation in emergency situations and during transport, reducing the need for large and costly traditional ventilators, while allowing for flexible operation and settings tailored to patient needs.
Implementation Method 1
a piston positioned within the hollow cylindrical chamber translates between the first and second positions. Translation of the piston between the first and second positions and vice versa may be facilitated by a motor (e.g., a stepper motor) configured to move the piston from the first position to the second position and subsequently move the piston from the second position to the first position within the hollow cylindrical chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Resuscitation/ventilation systems that include a pressure chamber or cylinder may use a piston articulated within the pressure chamber or shaft to push air and/or a mixture of gas and air into and out of an airway circuit for the purpose of providing mechanical ventilation and/or artificial respiration to a patient. In some cases, the pressure chamber or cylinder may be resident within a canister that fits with a body. The canister may include a motor that moves a shaft connected to the piston up and down, or in and out, within the pressure chamber or cylinder and this movement of the piston may cause a vacuum within the airway circuit and/or the pushing of air or gas out of the airway circuit into a patient’s lung(s).