Respiratory Probe With Segmented Channels And One-Way Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

In respiratory assemblies, residual polluted gas often hinders the introduction of fresh gas, leading to poor oxygenation of patients, and increasing pressure to expel pollutants risks injury, especially in children.

Innovation Solution

A respiratory probe with two independent paths connected to the artificial respirator via one-way valves, allowing fresh gas to bypass residual pollutants and facilitate their evacuation without excessive pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If pressure is increased to expel polluted respiratory gas, then evacuation of residual pollutants is improved, but risk of patient injury increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevacuation of polluted gasVSAvoidrisk of patient injury
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The single-channel probe is segmented into two independent channels (first respiratory tract and second respiratory tract). The first channel is dedicated to introducing fresh respiratory gas with a one-way valve allowing flow only toward the patient. The second channel is dedicated to evacuating polluted gas with a one-way valve allowing flow only toward the respirator. This segmentation eliminates the need to increase pressure to expel pollutants, as the evacuation path is separate and dedicated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

One-way valves act as intermediaries that enforce unidirectional flow in each channel. The first one-way valve ensures fresh gas flows only toward the patient, preventing backflow of polluted gas. The second one-way valve ensures polluted gas flows only toward the respirator, preventing it from obstructing the fresh gas channel. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling efficient evacuation without requiring excessive pressure that could injure the patient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If pressure is increased to help expel polluted respiratory gas, then oxygenation is improved, but safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient oxygenationVSAvoidrisk of injury
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The respiratory probe is divided into two independent channels with separate one-way valves. The first channel introduces fresh gas reliably without opposition from polluted gas. The second channel evacuates polluted gas reliably without requiring excessive pressure. This segmentation ensures both reliable oxygenation and patient safety simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The one-way valves enable the system to self-regulate flow directions automatically. Fresh gas naturally flows toward the patient through the first channel, and polluted gas naturally flows toward the respirator through the second channel, without requiring coordinated pressure control that could compromise safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If single-channel probe is used, then device complexity is reduced, but oxygenation efficiency deteriorates due to polluted gas obstruction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprobe structureVSAvoidpatient oxygenation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The probe is segmented into two independent channels, each with its own one-way valve. This increases structural complexity but dramatically improves oxygenation efficiency by eliminating the obstruction problem that occurs in single-channel designs where polluted gas blocks fresh gas introduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

One-way valves serve as intermediaries that guarantee unidirectional flow in each channel. This ensures that fresh gas always flows toward the patient and polluted gas always flows toward the respirator, providing reliable oxygenation despite the increased complexity of having two channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Ensures effective evacuation of residual pollutants, preventing them from obstructing fresh gas introduction, thus improving patient oxygenation without the risk of excessive pressure.

Implementation Method 1

whose proximal ends are connected in common to said outlet of said artificial respirator via respective one-way valves; and one of said one-way valves passes from the proximal end towards the distal end of the channel to which it is connected, while the other of said one-way valves passes from the distal end towards the proximal end of the other of said channels to which it is connected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOne-way valve mechanism: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP1977780B1Breathing apparatus with artificial respirator and probe
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 BOUSSIGNAC GEORGES
  • EP1977780B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP1977780B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

- Respiratory assembly with artificial respirator (4) and probe (I). - According to the invention, the probe (I) of said assembly comprises two parallel channels (1 and 2), equipped with unidirectional valves (5,6) mounted head-to-tail.