Remote Ventilator Control Interface for Wireless Settings Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical ventilators require direct interaction for setting changes, posing risks of cross-contamination and access challenges, especially for contagious patients, and necessitating extensive use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Innovation Solution
A remote device with a user interface that allows clinicians to adjust ventilator settings wirelessly, correlating inputs with physical components on the ventilator, reducing the need for direct physical interaction and enabling remote monitoring and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct physical interaction with the ventilator is required for setting changes, then the ventilator can be controlled and monitored, but the risk of cross-contamination increases and PPE consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A remote computing device acts as an intermediary between the clinician and the ventilator. The remote device communicates with the ventilator through a network connection, allowing setting changes to be made without direct physical contact. This intermediary approach maintains ventilator control reliability while eliminating the need for clinicians to physically touch the ventilator, thereby reducing cross-contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction system (physical buttons, knobs, and direct contact with the ventilator) with an electronic/digital communication system. The remote device sends electronic signals through a network to modify ventilator settings, substituting the mechanical control interface with a wireless or networked electronic interface. This eliminates physical contact while maintaining full control capability.
2Ease of operation
If clinicians must physically access the ventilator for setting changes, then direct control is possible, but access challenges arise and clinician stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to ventilator control by enabling remote access from any location with network connectivity. Instead of requiring the clinician to be physically present at the ventilator's location, the control interface is extended to remote devices that can connect through networks. This dimensional shift from local physical access to remote networked access improves accessibility while reducing the stress of constant physical presence requirements.
3Ease of operation
If direct physical interaction is required, then settings can be changed, but extensive PPE is needed increasing cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control functionality from the physical ventilator unit and relocates it to a remote computing device. The essential function of adjusting ventilator settings is separated from the need for physical presence at the ventilator. This extraction eliminates the requirement for extensive PPE while preserving full setting adjustment capability, as all control actions are performed remotely through electronic communication.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the technology include methods and systems for performing remote adjustments to a ventilator with a remote device. A remote device may include an interactive display including a remote position indicator. The remote position indicator may be associated or correlated with a local ventilator position indicator. A selection and/or adjustment at the remote device (or an activation at the remote device) at the interactive display may result in a selection, adjustment, or activation at the ventilator. Information may be transmitted to the ventilator from the remote device to remotely adjust the ventilator. Additionally or alternatively, the remote device may additionally display a view of, or replicate, some or all portions of the ventilator display.