Pressure Support Therapy With Core-Temperature Breathing Gas Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure support therapies, such as CPAP, can cause thermal interventions that lead to discomfort and disrupt sleep continuity due to mismatches between the temperature of the breathing gas and the patient's changing core body temperature throughout the night.
Innovation Solution
A pressure support system that adjusts the temperature of the breathing gas based on estimated core body temperature using a temperature conditioning unit controlled by a processing unit, which estimates the patient's core body temperature at selected times of day through various inputs, including heart rate, body movement, light exposure, and skin temperature sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the temperature of breathing gas is kept constant, then the device operation is simple, but patient comfort deteriorates due to mismatch with changing core body temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from constant temperature breathing gas to dynamically adjusted temperature that changes throughout the night based on the patient's circadian rhythm and core body temperature variations, thereby maintaining thermal comfort without significantly complicating device operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect patient physiological parameters (such as core body temperature or surrogate markers) and adjusting the breathing gas temperature accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that maintains optimal thermal comfort throughout the night
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the breathing gas temperature is adjusted to match core body temperature, then patient comfort improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a processing unit that receives physiological data from sensors and translates it into temperature adjustment commands for the heating element, thereby managing system complexity through modular functional decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by automatically adjusting breathing gas temperature based on sensor feedback without requiring manual intervention from the patient, with the processing unit autonomously determining optimal temperature settings throughout the night
3Reliability
If thermal intervention is applied to treat sleep disorders, then respiratory function improves, but sleep continuity deteriorates due to discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the temperature parameter of the breathing gas throughout the night to match the patient's changing core body temperature, thereby maintaining respiratory support effectiveness while eliminating thermal discomfort that would disrupt sleep continuity
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 system maintains thermal comfort for the patient by matching the breathing gas temperature to their changing core body temperature, thereby improving sleep continuity and reducing morning fatigue.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature conditioning unit structured to adjust a temperature of the breathing gas provided to the patient
Implementation Method 2
a processing unit structured to estimate a core body temperature of the patient for selected times of day based on one or more inputs and to control the temperature conditioning unit to adjust temperature of the breathing provided to the patient
Data Source
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AI summary
A pressure support system (2) for providing pressure support therapy to a patient (10), the pressure support device includes an airflow generator (6) structured to generate a flow of breathing gas to the patient, a temperature conditioning unit (29) structured to adjust a temperature of the breathing gas provided to the patient, and a processing unit (24) structured to estimate a core body temperature of the patient for selected times of day based on one or more inputs and to control the temperature conditioning unit to adjust temperature of the breathing provided to the patient at the selected times of day based on the estimated core body temperatures of the patient.