Respiratory Air Routing With Separate Inhalation and Exhalation Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing airway clearance devices face challenges such as contamination risk, the need for multiple devices for different therapies, inefficiency in pressure control, and lack of separate conduits for inhalation and exhalation, leading to potential cross-contamination and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A respiratory care apparatus with separate conduits for inhalation and exhalation, independent pressure generating sources, and electromechanical valves to control pressure and flow direction, along with a connectivity module for data transfer, enabling multiple airway clearance therapies while reducing contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate conduits for inhalation and exhalation are implemented, then contamination risk is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination risk reductionVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patient interface tube is divided into separate inner and outer conduits. The inner conduit handles inhalation flow while the outer conduit handles exhalation flow, physically separating the two pathways to prevent cross-contamination between inhalation and exhalation streams.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner conduit is nested within the outer conduit, forming a tube-in-tube structure. This nesting arrangement allows both inhalation and exhalation pathways to coexist in a compact configuration, reducing space requirements while maintaining separate flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple devices are used for different airway clearance therapies, then therapy versatility is improved, but cost and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapy versatilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The respiratory care apparatus is designed to perform multiple airway clearance therapies including High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO), Mechanical Insufflation/Exsufflation (MIE), and Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) through a single integrated device, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple therapy functions are merged into a single apparatus by integrating separate pressure generating sources and flow paths for each therapy type, allowing all functions to operate from one unified system with centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple devices are used for different airway clearance therapies, then therapy versatility is improved, but device quantity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapy versatilityVSAvoidnumber of devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If independent pressure generating sources are used for each therapy function, then pressure control precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure control precisionVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus uses separate pressure generating sources for different therapy functions (HFCWO, MIE, PAP) rather than a single shared source. This segmentation allows each therapy to have optimized, independent pressure control without interference from other functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Electromechanical valves are introduced as intermediary components to control and regulate the output of each pressure generating source. These valves provide precise pressure modulation and flow direction control, enabling accurate pressure delivery to the patient interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12569633B2Oscillatory respiratory care apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 ABM RESPIRATORY CARE

AI summary

Described herein is a respiratory care apparatus capable of performing multitude of therapy for secretion management and breath assistance therapy. The respiratory care apparatus comprises an electromechanical air router assembly (EARA) and an interfacing assembly. The EARA includes independent first and second pressure generating sources for assisted inhalation/insufflation and assisted exhalation/exsufflation process. The interfacing assembly includes a patient interface port and a patient interface tube. The interfacing assembly forms two pneumatically separate paths. The respiratory care apparatus is configured to generate alternate positive and negative pressure at the patient interface port for assisted inhalation/insufflation and assisted exhalation/exsufflation processes respectively. The assisted inhalation/insufflation and assisted exhalation/exsufflation processes are carried out independently through separate conduits/passages to reduce contamination and infection. Further, the respiratory care apparatus comprises a garment which oscillates due to alternate positive and negative pressure generation and provides therapy to the patient.