HFCWO Garment Pressure Sensing for Automatic Cough Pausing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) systems require patients to manually pause the therapy when they need to cough, which complicates their use and reduces patient compliance.
Innovation Solution
A high-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy apparatus with a garment, air pulse generator, and sensor system that automatically detects an oncoming cough by measuring pressure changes, allowing the system to pause therapy accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pause mechanism is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but patient compliance decreases due to dependency on patient action
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects coughs and pauses therapy without requiring patient intervention. The sensor system monitors pressure changes and the controller automatically responds, allowing the system to serve itself by detecting and responding to cough events autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system continuously monitors pressure changes in the air chamber and provides feedback to the controller. When cough indicators are detected through pressure change analysis, the controller adjusts therapy accordingly, creating a closed-loop feedback system that adapts to patient needs automatically.
2Extent of automation
If automatic cough detection is implemented, then patient compliance improves, but device complexity increases due to sensor and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor serves multiple functions: it monitors therapy delivery, detects cough events, and provides data for therapy adjustment. By making the sensor system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure changes in the air chamber serve as an intermediary signal that indirectly indicates cough events. Instead of requiring direct contact sensors or complex mechanical detectors, the system uses pressure variations in the existing pneumatic system as a mediator to detect coughs, simplifying the overall detection mechanism.
3Duration of action of moving object
If therapy continues during cough, then treatment duration is maintained, but patient comfort decreases due to inability to cough
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects cough indicators before the actual cough occurs and pauses therapy in advance. By detecting the onset of cough through pressure changes and pausing therapy beforehand, the system prevents the harmful effect of continuing therapy during the cough act, thereby improving patient comfort while maintaining overall treatment duration.
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
Enhances user experience by automatically pausing therapy during a cough, improving patient compliance and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor is positioned in pneumatic communication with the air chamber and configured to measure pressure in the air chamber or the garment
Implementation Method 2
rapid mechanical compression of air in the air chamber causes the inflation of the sacs
Implementation Method 3
The HFCWO system mechanically performs chest physical therapy by vibrating at a high frequency. The garment vibrates the chest to loosen and thin mucus in the respiratory system.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to the use of sensors in chest compression devices to automatically detect an oncoming cough when a patient is using such a device for airway clearance. The chest compression device is configured to pause when the oncoming cough is detected based on one or more cough indicators.