Pneumatic Module With Compensating Volume for Surge-Free Gas Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pneumatic modules for supplying medical gases and air to patients, particularly newborns, suffer from pressure surges and fluctuations that can damage underdeveloped lungs, despite the need for precise pressure control and regulation.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic module with a main flow duct, pressure relief valve, and a control duct featuring a compensating element that absorbs pressure surges via an elastically deformable component, maintaining consistent pressure by venting when maximum pressure is reached.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If a pressure relief valve is used to vent the main flow duct when maximum pressure is reached, then the maximum pressure can be controlled, but pressure surges occur at the control port of the pressure relief valve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaximum pressure controlVSAvoidpressure surge-free operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A compensating element is introduced as an intermediary component between the control port of the pressure relief valve and the main flow duct. This compensating element absorbs pressure surges that occur when the pressure relief valve vents the main flow duct, preventing direct transmission of pressure fluctuations to the control system while maintaining the maximum pressure control function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The compensating element is pre-configured to provide cushioning capacity before pressure surges occur. When the pressure relief valve activates, the compensating element is already in position to absorb the resulting pressure fluctuations, preventing them from affecting the control port and ensuring stable operation of the pressure relief valve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If precise pressure control is implemented for neonatal ventilation, then lung damage is prevented, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure control precisionVSAvoidpneumatic module complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compensating element serves as a passive intermediary that automatically absorbs pressure surges without requiring additional active control components. This approach maintains precise pressure control for neonatal ventilation while avoiding the need for complex electronic control systems, sensors, or feedback mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The compensating element operates autonomously to dampen pressure fluctuations, providing self-service pressure stabilization without requiring external control input. This simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for additional active control elements while maintaining the precision required for safe neonatal ventilation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 module ensures a pressure surge-free breathing gas stream, preventing lung damage by maintaining consistent pressure levels, suitable for emergency and neonatal ventilation with minimal maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

pressure surges, i.e. air displaced briefly additionally, which occur at the control port of the pressure relief valve, are absorbed and thus equalized in a compensating volume, which is generated by an at least partial elastic deformation of a compensating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a pressure relief valve, which is arranged downstream of the flow valve and which is set up to vent the main flow duct at least from time to time when a permissible maximum pressure is exceeded

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure relief: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS12508393B2Pneumatic module and process for supplying a consumer with a pressure surge-free stream of medical gases or medical air

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 DRAGERWERK AG

AI summary

A pneumatic module (1) and a process supply a patient with breathing gas. An inlet (2) connects a medical gas source and an outlet (3) via a main flow duct (4) with a flow valve (5), setting a downstream volume flow, and a pressure relief valve (6) downstream of the flow valve (5) that vents the main flow duct (4) when a pressure is exceeded. A control duct (7), connected to a relief valve control port (8), branches off from the main flow duct (4) at a branch (15) upstream of the flow valve (5). A pressure control unit (9), arranged in the control duct, sets a flow value through the control duct (7), and acts on the control port (8) for setting a maximum pressure. The control port (8) is connected to a compensating element (10) providing a compensating volume (11) for the control duct (7).