Pneumatic Block With Merged Blower Sub-assemblies For Respiratory Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory therapy devices for conditions like Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease face challenges with comfort, ease of use, and compliance due to poorly fitting masks and noisy operation, leading to reduced patient adherence and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A respiratory pressure therapy device with a pneumatic block design featuring multiple blower sub-assemblies and a chamber arrangement that reduces noise and improves airflow, combined with a patient interface that provides comfortable and secure air delivery, and an integrated humidifier for enhanced patient comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple blower sub-assemblies are integrated into a pneumatic block, then airflow efficiency and therapy effectiveness are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple blower sub-assemblies are integrated into a single pneumatic block structure, merging previously separate components into one unified assembly. This combining approach improves airflow efficiency by enabling coordinated operation of multiple blowers while managing the complexity through integrated design of the common chassis assembly and chamber arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic block with common chassis assembly serves multiple functions: it houses multiple blower sub-assemblies, provides structured air flow paths, creates chamber arrangements for airflow management, and supports the integrated humidifier. This multi-functionality improves productivity by consolidating several therapeutic functions into one device module.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If noise reduction measures are implemented in the pneumatic block, then patient comfort and compliance are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic block design converts potentially harmful noise from blower operations into beneficial structured airflow patterns. The chamber arrangement and air flow paths are configured to manage and direct air movement in a way that reduces turbulent noise while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness, thus converting a harmful factor (noise) into a benefit (quiet operation with maintained airflow efficiency).
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an integrated humidifier is added to the device, then patient comfort and compliance are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The humidifier is integrated into the existing pneumatic block structure, merging the humidification function with the airflow management system. This combining approach improves patient comfort by adding humidification therapy while managing device complexity through shared structural components and integrated air flow paths that serve both breathing support and humidification functions.
4Ease of operation
If a secure and comfortable patient interface is designed, then therapy compliance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface design applies local quality by optimizing specific contact areas and structural features for comfort and security. Rather than requiring high precision throughout the entire device, the interface focuses manufacturing precision on critical local areas where patient contact occurs, such as cushion regions and connection points, while using more tolerant materials and designs in non-critical areas.
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
The solution enhances patient compliance and therapy effectiveness by providing a quieter, more comfortable, and easier-to-use device that maintains effective air pressure delivery, addressing the shortcomings of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic block including a chassis assembly configured to support each of multiple blower sub-assemblies... each of the first and second configurations of the pneumatic block form an air flow path extending from a chassis inlet to a chassis outlet
Implementation Method 2
The at least first and second blower sub-assemblies are different structurally from one another in at least one aspect... Each of the first and second configurations of the pneumatic block form a chamber arrangement including a plurality of chambers along the air flow path
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for providing air at positive pressure for respiratory therapy to a patient includes a pneumatic block including at least first and second blower sub-assemblies and a common chassis assembly configured to support each of the at least first and second blower sub-assemblies. The at least first and second blower sub-assemblies are different structurally from one another in at least one aspect. Each of the at least first and second blower sub-assemblies includes a corresponding blower configured to produce a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure. The common chassis assembly and the first blower sub-assembly form a first configuration of the pneumatic block, and the common chassis assembly and the second blower sub-assembly form a second configuration of the pneumatic block. The air flow path and the chamber arrangement of the first configuration is different than the air flow path and the chamber arrangement of the second configuration.