Respiratory Conduit Water Detection Using Flow And Pressure Perturbations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Respiratory therapy systems face issues with water accumulation in conduits due to inadequate humidity control, leading to compromised therapy effectiveness and patient safety, particularly under varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for detecting water in respiratory conduits by analyzing breathing gas flow and pressure signals, using a controller to determine perturbations and thresholds, and controlling heaters or flow generators to evaporate condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If humidity control is not configured properly or the respiratory conduit is unheated, then the system is simpler and uses less energy, but water accumulates in the conduit compromising therapy effectiveness and patient safety
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing breathing gas flow and pressure signals to automatically detect water accumulation without requiring separate sensors or complex user configuration. The controller autonomously monitors the conduit conditions and triggers appropriate responses based on the detected perturbations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical water detection methods (such as separate humidity sensors or visual inspection) with an acoustic/electronic detection method that analyzes perturbations in existing breathing gas flow and pressure signals to identify water accumulation.
2Reliability
If heating is applied to the respiratory conduit to evaporate condensation, then water accumulation is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous heating, the system applies heating periodically or intermittently based on the detection of water accumulation. The controller activates the heater only when perturbations indicate condensation presence, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective condensation control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts heating parameters (such as power level or duration) based on the severity of detected water accumulation, optimizing energy usage by applying only the necessary heating to resolve the condensation issue.
3Reliability
If real-time detection and control mechanisms are implemented, then water accumulation is effectively reduced, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing multi-functional components (the controller already manages breathing gas flow and pressure) to also perform water detection and control functions. By leveraging existing signals and control capabilities, the patent avoids adding dedicated separate systems for condensation management.
4Reliability
If the respiratory conduit is heated to prevent condensation, then therapy reliability improves, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects water accumulation early through analysis of breathing gas flow and pressure perturbations and activates heating as a preventive or corrective measure before condensation severely impacts therapy delivery, optimizing the timing and necessity of energy consumption.
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
Effectively reduces water accumulation in conduits, ensuring therapy effectiveness and patient safety by preventing or minimizing condensation through real-time detection and control mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
determine at least one first parameter associated with flow perturbations and/or pressure perturbations
Implementation Method 2
determine at least one first parameter associated with flow perturbations and/or pressure perturbations
Implementation Method 3
control a heater within the respiratory conduit to evaporate, at least partially, any detected liquid condensation
Data Source
AI summary
We provide a respiratory therapy system comprising: a flow generator; a humidifier; a respiratory conduit; a patient interface coupled to the respiratory conduit to deliver a gases flow to a patient; a sensor configured to determine pressure or flow of the gases flow; a controller configured to control the flow generator to generate the gases flow; and the controller configured to: a) retrieve at least one first signal associated with or indicative of a gases flow and/or pressure in the respiratory conduit; b) determine a measure of at least one first parameter associated with gases flow perturbations and/or pressure perturbations for at least one portion of the retrieved at least one first signal; and c) determine the presence of liquid in the respiratory conduit based at least in part on the measure(s) of the at least one first parameter meeting a first threshold.