Reservoir Cannula with Static Fluidic Control for Oxygen Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oxygen delivery methods, such as continuous flow nasal cannulas, are wasteful as they deliver oxygen during exhalation and late inhalation, leading to inefficient oxygenation and rapid depletion of portable oxygen supplies, especially for mobile patients who require higher oxygen flow during exertion.
Innovation Solution
A reservoir cannula with a static fluidic control structure that stores oxygen in a chamber and around the nasal passages, allowing for high volume oxygen delivery during early inhalation, reducing the need for continuous flow and enabling lower flow oxygen usage, thus extending portable oxygen supply and improving oxygenation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous flow oxygen delivery is used through a nasal cannula, then oxygenation is maintained, but oxygen is wasted during exhalation and late inhalation, leading to rapid depletion of portable oxygen supplies
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a membrane that periodically opens and closes in response to respiratory pressure changes to deliver oxygen in pulses synchronized with the patient's breathing cycle. The membrane remains closed during exhalation and opens during inhalation, creating periodic oxygen delivery that matches the physiological need and eliminates waste during non-inhalation phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir chamber stores oxygen in advance during the exhalation phase when the membrane is closed. This pre-stored oxygen is then rapidly delivered during the subsequent inhalation phase, ensuring oxygen is available exactly when needed without continuous flow waste.
2Reliability
If higher oxygen flow is delivered to meet oxygenation needs during exertion, then oxygenation requirements are satisfied, but portable oxygen supply depletes more quickly
Solution Approach 1:
By delivering oxygen in concentrated pulses during inhalation rather than continuous flow, the device provides high oxygen delivery efficiency when needed while minimizing overall consumption. The periodic delivery synchronized with breathing ensures adequate oxygenation during exertion without proportionally increasing total oxygen use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device maintains continuous oxygen availability in the reservoir chamber while delivering it discontinuously in pulses. This ensures that oxygen is always ready for immediate delivery during inhalation, maintaining reliable oxygenation levels without requiring continuous high-flow input that would deplete portable supplies quickly.
3Productivity
If a membrane-based reservoir cannula is used to store oxygen, then oxygen delivery efficiency is improved, but the membrane can be pushed to the open position at high flow and cannot cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses pneumatic pressure differentials created by the patient's own respiratory cycle to control membrane opening and closing. During inhalation, negative pressure pulls the membrane open; during exhalation, positive pressure pushes it closed. This self-regulating pneumatic mechanism ensures reliable cycling even at high flows without external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is designed to be dynamically responsive to changing respiratory pressures rather than being statically held in one position. It can smoothly transition between open and closed states based on real-time pressure conditions, ensuring reliable cycling behavior across a wide range of flow rates and breathing intensities.
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 reservoir cannula achieves oxygenation levels comparable to high flow systems with lower oxygen flow, reducing waste and allowing patients to carry smaller, lighter oxygen containers, while maintaining comfort and reliability without moving parts or membranes.
Implementation Method 1
The fluidic controller is configured to open in response to a pressure differential associated with a patient's inhalation and close in response to a pressure differential associated with the patient's exhalation
Implementation Method 2
A reservoir cannula with a static fluidic control structure that stores oxygen in a chamber and around the nasal passages
Data Source
AI summary
A reservoir cannula is described that has a static fluidic control structure, in that it does not employ a membrane or other moving parts. Furthermore, the reservoir is open to ambient air instead of being sealed. In use, the reservoir cannula enables storage of oxygen and oxygen-rich gas in a storage chamber as well as in and around the patient's nasal passages and nasopharynx, which enables high volume oxygen delivery to the patient early in the next inhalation. Consequently, patients using this delivery mode can carry a smaller and lighter portable oxygen container for ambulatory oxygen, because lower flow oxygen is required to meet their oxygenation needs. In addition, patients requiring a higher flow of oxygen can achieve oxygenation levels previously achieved only by high flow mask or high flow nasal oxygen systems.