Portable Ventilator Host Interface for Continuous Respiratory Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patients requiring respiratory support face challenges during transfers between ventilators, including disruption of continuous ventilation, maintenance of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and risk of nosocomial infections due to repeated connection and disconnection from ventilator systems.

Innovation Solution

A portable ventilator system that allows continuous ventilation by seamlessly switching between a portable gas source and a host gas source, maintaining consistent ventilation parameters and preventing disconnection, with a design that includes a ventilation drive and patient interface section configured to removably connect to various hosts and gas sources, ensuring uninterrupted respiratory support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a patient is transferred between different ventilator systems (anesthesia ventilator to ICU ventilator), then the patient can receive appropriate respiratory support for different treatment settings, but the patient must be disconnected from one ventilator before connection to another, causing interruption of ventilation and exposing the airway to pathogens

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAbility to provide respiratory support in multiple settings (anesthesia and ICU)VSAvoidContinuity of ventilation support
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The portable ventilator is designed with universal functionality to operate in both anesthesia and ICU settings. It can function as a standalone portable ventilator with integrated gas sources, or connect to external hosts (anesthesia machines or ICU ventilators) to provide respiratory support across different treatment environments without requiring patient disconnection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable ventilator acts as an intermediary device between the patient and different host ventilator systems. It maintains continuous connection to the patient while selectively connecting to or disconnecting from external hosts, thereby preventing direct exposure of the patient's airway to pathogens during transfers between ventilation systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a portable ventilator uses its own integrated gas source, then it can provide continuous ventilation during patient transport, but the gas supply duration is limited by the portable gas source capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePortability and independence during patient transportVSAvoidDuration of ventilation support
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The portable ventilator employs dynamic gas source selection capability. It can switch between its own integrated portable gas source during patient transport and external host gas sources when connected to fixed ventilator systems, thereby adapting the gas supply duration to match the operational context and extending overall ventilation support time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The portable ventilator is pre-equipped with an integrated gas source and power supply, enabling immediate independent operation during patient transport without requiring connection to external systems. This preliminary preparation ensures continuous ventilation can be maintained during critical transfer periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of moving object

If the portable ventilator connects to external hosts for gas supply, then the duration of ventilation support is extended, but the system complexity increases with multiple connection interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDuration of ventilation supportVSAvoidNumber of connection interfaces and gas source integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The portable ventilator incorporates universal connection interfaces that can interface with multiple types of host systems (anesthesia machines, ICU ventilators, gas sources). This multi-functionality is achieved through standardized connection protocols and adaptive recognition, allowing the device to extend ventilation duration across different settings without proportionally increasing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4039303B1Respiration systems
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
  • EP4039303B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4039303B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4039303B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A ventilator system includes a ventilator and a host. The ventilator comprises a ventilation drive configured to drive ventilation gas from a gas source to a patient and a patient interface section configured to guide inspiratory gas along an inspiratory path from the ventilation drive to a patient connection, and guide expiratory gas along an expiratory path from the patient connection out of the ventilator. The patient interface section is configured to releasably connect to the ventilation drive. The ventilator is configured to removably connect to the host such that at least one of the inspiratory path and the expiratory path are diverted through the host when the ventilator is removably connected to the host.