Portable Ventilator Direct Oxygen Routing for Higher FIO2
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable ventilators are limited in delivering high fractions of inspired oxygen (FIO2) when used with unmodified pulse oxygen concentrators due to low pressure and flow, and they suffer from leaks at the patient interface, reducing the effectiveness of oxygen delivery.
Innovation Solution
A portable ventilator system that triggers a pulse of oxygen from any portable oxygen concentrator and delivers it directly to the patient interface, bypassing leaks in the patient circuit, using a multi-tube or multi-lumen patient circuit with separate lines for air and oxygen delivery, and an electro-mechanical negative pressure device to synchronize oxygen delivery with the patient's breathing cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a portable ventilator uses low pressure and low flow settings to work with unmodified pulse oxygen concentrators, then the device can be portable and compatible with standard concentrators, but the fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) delivered to the patient is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patient circuit is divided into separate lumens: one for ventilator air delivery and another for oxygen concentrator pulse delivery. This segmentation allows independent control and delivery of oxygen-rich gas directly to the patient interface, bypassing mixing with ventilator air and circuit leaks, thereby achieving high FIO2 while maintaining portability and compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
An electro-mechanical negative pressure triggering device is introduced as an intermediary component. This device converts the ventilator's low pressure signal into sufficient negative pressure to trigger the pulse concentrator, enabling synchronization without requiring high ventilator pressure while maintaining oxygen delivery effectiveness
2Ease of operation
If traditional ventilator methods mix oxygen with air in the ventilator or patient circuit, then the system is simple to operate, but leaks at the patient interface reduce the effectiveness of oxygen delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen delivery pathway is extracted and separated from the main ventilator circuit. The oxygen concentrator pulse is delivered through a dedicated lumen directly to the patient interface, bypassing the ventilator air mixing chamber and patient circuit where leaks occur. This ensures oxygen-rich gas reaches the patient reliably even when circuit leaks are present
Solution Approach 2:
Different lumens in the patient circuit are assigned different functions with different gas compositions. The oxygen delivery lumen provides high concentration oxygen directly at the patient interface location, while the air delivery lumen provides ventilator air. This local differentiation of gas quality ensures high FIO2 at the critical patient interface zone
3Extent of automation
If a Venturi valve or tube is used to generate negative pressure to trigger the oxygen concentrator, then the concentrator can be triggered, but higher pressure and flow are required from the ventilator which reduces portability
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical Venturi system is replaced with an electro-mechanical negative pressure triggering device. This electronic triggering mechanism is more efficient at converting ventilator pressure changes into concentrator trigger signals, requiring lower ventilator pressure and flow, thereby maintaining ventilator portability while achieving automatic concentrator triggering
Solution Approach 2:
The triggering mechanism parameters are optimized to work with low pressure portable ventilators. The electro-mechanical device is designed to detect and respond to small pressure changes from portable ventilators, converting them into effective trigger signals for the pulse concentrator without requiring high ventilator pressure or flow settings
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 higher FIO2 delivery to patients, allowing them to be mobile while receiving effective oxygen therapy, even when using unmodified pulse concentrators, by bypassing leaks and optimizing oxygen delivery.
Implementation Method 1
A portable ventilator system that triggers a pulse of oxygen from any portable oxygen concentrator... using an electro-mechanical negative pressure device to synchronize oxygen delivery with the patient's breathing cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A portable medical ventilator using pulse flow from an oxygen concentrator to gain higher oxygen concentration includes a positive pressure source to deliver pressurized air to the patient and a negative pressure source to trigger the oxygen concentrator. A patient circuit attached to a patient interface mask connects the ventilator to the patient. The ventilator includes a controller module that is configured to generate a signal to the negative pressure device to trigger the concentrator to initiate one or more pulses of oxygen from the oxygen concentrator. The oxygen pulses are delivered to the patient interface directly through multi-tube or a multi lumen patient circuit. The oxygen does not mix with air in the ventilator or in the patient circuit and bypasses the leaks in the patient circuit and/or patient interface.