Remote Oxygen Therapy Control With Secure Dual Operating Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oxygen supply devices, such as High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC), require healthcare workers to be physically present for adjustments, posing a risk to their safety during COVID-19 treatment and are not suitable for remote monitoring or timely adjustments based on patient physiological changes.
Innovation Solution
An oxygen supply device with multiple operational states allowing remote control by authorized healthcare providers, featuring encryption and authentication to ensure secure and timely adjustments, reducing the need for physical proximity and enabling home use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If healthcare workers physically adjust oxygen supply devices at patient locations, then device configuration can be adjusted in real-time, but healthcare workers face high infection risk from highly contagious diseases
Solution Approach 1:
A remote computing device acts as an intermediary between the healthcare worker and the oxygen supply device. The healthcare worker interacts with the remote device through a network connection, which then communicates with the oxygen supply device via a communication interface, eliminating the need for physical proximity while maintaining control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical interaction system (direct hand-on-device adjustment) with an electronic communication system. Control signals are transmitted electronically through network connections and communication interfaces, substituting physical presence with digital communication
2Productivity
If oxygen supply device requires physical proximity for control, then authentication and authorization can be simplified, but timely adjustments based on patient physiological changes cannot be made remotely
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen supply device is designed with multi-functionality, supporting both local control mode (for immediate adjustments) and remote control mode (for timely responses without physical proximity). The control system can operate in either mode depending on clinical needs, providing universal adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where patient physiological parameters are monitored and transmitted to the control system. This enables automatic or assisted adjustments based on real-time patient status, improving response time while managing complexity through intelligent control algorithms
3Object-affected harmful factors
If remote control capability is added to oxygen supply device, then healthcare worker safety is improved, but device complexity and security requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Authentication and authorization are performed in advance before remote control access is granted. The system pre-verifies user credentials, device identity, and permission levels through security protocols, ensuring that only authorized users can control the device remotely. This preliminary security check prevents unauthorized access while enabling safe remote operation
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide an oxygen supply device having multiple operational states including a first state and a second state. In the first state, the oxygen supply device is controllable to a local control instruction such that the oxygen supply device can be operated by a user physically located within a proximity of the oxygen supply device. In the second state, the oxygen supply device is only controllable to a remote-control instruction such that the oxygen supply device can be operated by a user remote to the oxygen supply device. For example, the user can be located in an office remote to a location of the oxygen supply device, which, for example, may be placed at a patient's home. In the second state, the user is enabled to control the oxygen supply device from a device associated with the user in the remote location.