Whole Body Plethysmograph Cabinet Sealing via Negative Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing whole-body-plethysmograph systems face challenges in ensuring operational safety and reducing patient influence during lung function examinations, primarily due to the need for strong magnetic locks and stiff materials that can affect measurement accuracy and patient comfort.

Innovation Solution

A whole-body-plethysmograph system that maintains gas tightness within a cabinet using a pressure control device to create a negative gas pressure, eliminating the need for locking systems and utilizing pressure-dependent materials to reduce structural stiffness and weight, while a control system stabilizes pressure conditions for accurate measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a heavy magnetic lock or heavy mechanical lock is used to seal the cabinet, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the weight of the cabinet increases and transport becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidcabinet weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy mechanical locking systems with a pressure-based sealing mechanism. A pressure control device creates negative pressure inside the cabinet, causing the cabinet closure to be pressed against the cabinet opening by the pressure difference, achieving reliable sealing without mechanical locks or heavy stiff materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pneumatic pressure control to achieve sealing. The pressure control device generates negative pressure within the cabinet, and this pressure differential acts on the cabinet closure to maintain gas-tight sealing during measurements, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical fastening systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If a strong magnetic field is used in the magnetic lock, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the influence on the patient during examination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidmagnetic field influence on patient

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates magnetic locking systems that generate strong magnetic fields by replacing them with a pressure-based sealing mechanism. The negative pressure system creates sealing force through pressure differential without requiring magnetic fields, thus removing the harmful electromagnetic influence on patients during lung function examinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If heavy and stiff cabinet wall material is used, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the ease of transport deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidease of transport

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy stiff cabinet wall materials with a pressure-based sealing system. The cabinet closure is held against the opening by negative pressure rather than mechanical stiffness, allowing the use of lighter materials that are easier to transport while maintaining sealing reliability during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic pressure control to maintain sealing. The pressure control device actively maintains negative pressure inside the cabinet, dynamically adjusting to maintain the sealing force on the cabinet closure, replacing the static mechanical stiffness with an active pressure-based system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution enhances operational safety, reduces patient influence, and allows for more efficient examinations by using negative gas pressure to seal the cabinet effectively without locking systems, enabling lighter and easier-to-transport equipment while maintaining measurement stability.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure control device (15), while said pressure control device is configured to provide a desired negative gas pressure inside said cabinet (12) to seal said cabinet opening (13) by said cabinet closure (14)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative gas pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The inventive whole-body-plethysmograph utilizes the force generated by the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the cabinet, affecting the cabinet closure (14)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure difference force: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20230404429A1Whole body plethysmograph systems and methods to control the gas tightness inside a cabinet of a whole body plethysmograph

Publication Date: 2023.12.21 JAEGER MEDICAL GMBH

AI summary

A whole-body-plethysmograph 11 for examination of a lung function of subjects. The whole-body-plethysmograph has a cabinet 12 with a cabinet opening 13 and a cabinet closure 14 for gas-tight sealing of the cabinet opening 13. A pressure control device 15 is provided, and the pressure control device 15 is configured to provide a desired negative gas pressure inside the cabinet 12 to seal the cabinet opening 13 by the cabinet closure 14. Furthermore, methods to control the gas tightness inside a cabinet 12 of the whole-body-plethysmograph are disclosed.