Respiratory Gas Humidifier with Core Temperature Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional respiratory gas delivery systems fail to optimally condition respiratory gas, particularly in scenarios like high-risk surgeries where patients' body temperature is lowered, leading to risks of over-humidification and discomfort or scalding.
Innovation Solution
A respiratory gas delivery system with a sensor to measure core body temperature and a controller that adjusts the humidification device's operation to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels, ensuring the gas flow matches the patient's body temperature, using a heater and sensors integrated into the patient interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the water reservoir is heated to an elevated temperature to promote evaporation and raise moisture content, then the relative humidity of the gas stream is maintained at a desired level, but the gas flow may become over-heated causing discomfort or scalding to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a temperature sensor to continuously monitor the temperature of the gas flow leaving the humidifier. This feedback signal is used by the controller to dynamically adjust the heating power applied to the water reservoir, ensuring that the gas temperature remains within a safe range while maintaining adequate humidity. The feedback loop prevents over-heating by reducing heater power when gas temperature approaches the safety threshold.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operating parameters of the humidifier, specifically the heating power and water temperature, based on real-time gas temperature measurements and patient body temperature data. By adjusting these parameters continuously rather than maintaining a fixed setpoint, the system can accommodate varying patient conditions and prevent both over-heating and insufficient humidification.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed operating condition is set using a manually operated dial, then the humidification level is constant, but the system cannot adapt to different patient conditions such as lowered body temperature during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives feedback from temperature sensors that monitor both the gas flow temperature and the patient's body temperature (via core body temperature sensor). This feedback enables the system to automatically adjust humidification settings according to the patient's actual condition, replacing manual fixed settings with dynamic adaptive control that responds to changing physiological states.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of humidification parameters based on sensor inputs without requiring manual intervention. The controller automatically modifies heating power and water temperature settings in response to detected changes in patient condition, enabling the humidifier to serve itself and adapt to different surgical scenarios without operator involvement.
3Quantity of substance
If the heater operates at high power to ensure adequate humidification, then moisture content is sufficient, but energy consumption increases and risk of overheating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors gas temperature and adjusts heater power accordingly, applying high power only when and where needed to achieve sufficient humidification. This feedback-controlled approach prevents unnecessary energy consumption by reducing or eliminating heating when gas temperature is already adequate, while still ensuring sufficient moisture content is delivered to the patient.
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
Prevents over-humidification and discomfort by dynamically controlling the humidification process based on real-time body temperature data, ensuring safe and effective gas conditioning for patients during various medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a heater for transfer of heat energy to the reservoir of water
Implementation Method 2
An evaporator may be used for this purpose, within which the inspiratory gas is passed over a heated water reservoir such that water vapour is carried by the gas to the patient
Data Source
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AI summary
A respiratory gas delivery system (10) is disclosed. The respiratory gas delivery system (10) comprises a wearer interface (16) through which respiratory gas is supplied to a wearer's airway and a gas conditioning device (24) for conditioning the respiratory gas upstream of the interface (16) in a direction of gas flow to the wearer, the gas conditioning device (24) comprising a controller (78), wherein the interface (16) comprises a sensor for measuring an operating variable in use such that the controller (78) controls the operation of the conditioning device (24) based on said sensor measurement.