Respiratory Therapy Apparatus with Acoustic Usage Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of respiratory therapy apparatus often neglect to use the devices regularly, making it difficult for clinicians to determine if poor adherence is causing a patient's condition to deteriorate.
Innovation Solution
A respiratory therapy apparatus with a rocker arm valve that produces audible sound waves during use, coupled with a separate acoustic sensor unit that detects these sound waves to provide a signal indicative of usage frequency and duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a respiratory therapy apparatus is used to treat patients, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but monitoring of device usage becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using a sensor to detect acoustic pressure waves generated during valve operation, converting these acoustic signals into electrical signals that indicate device usage. This feedback mechanism allows clinicians to monitor whether patients are using the apparatus as prescribed, directly addressing the information loss problem while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical usage recording mechanisms with an acoustic sensing system. Instead of relying on mechanical counters or electronic chips embedded in the device, the invention uses acoustic pressure wave detection through a separate sensor, substituting a mechanical tracking system with an acoustic field-based measurement system
2Measurement precision
If a sensor is integrated into the device, then usage monitoring is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the sensor from the main respiratory therapy device. The sensor is positioned close to the device to detect acoustic pressure waves but remains a distinct component, allowing usage monitoring functionality to be added without increasing the complexity of the primary therapeutic device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses acoustic pressure waves as an intermediary between the device operation and the sensor detection. The acoustic waves serve as a mediator that carries information about valve operation from the device to the sensor without requiring direct physical or electrical connection, thereby maintaining device simplicity while enabling accurate monitoring
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 solution enables accurate monitoring of device usage, allowing users and clinicians to assess compliance and adjust therapy accordingly, thereby improving treatment effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the oscillating movement of the rocker arm producing an audible sound being transmitted through the surrounding air as the acoustic pressure waves
Implementation Method 2
the sensor is arranged to provide a signal indicative of the frequency of oscillation, the sensor is contained in a unit including a display on which is represented the frequency of oscillation detected by the sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4B
AI summary
Respiratory therapy apparatus includes device (100) with a rocker arm (12) supporting a valve (11) that opens and closes an expiration opening (10) so that an oscillating resistance to flow is produced accompanied by an alternating sound at the frequency of oscillation. The apparatus also includes a sensor (20) with a microphone (21) that detects sound from the device (100) transmitted through air. The sensor (20) computes the frequency of the detected sound and represents this on a display (23).