Respiratory Simulator Airway Geometry for Multiphase Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for simulating exhalation emissions are overly simplistic and fail to accurately replicate the multiphase turbulent airflow and droplet formation associated with respiratory events like coughing, sneezing, and talking, limiting understanding of pathogen transmission and the effectiveness of protective measures.
Innovation Solution
The Respiratory System Simulator System (RSSS) generates realistic multiphase turbulent gas clouds by controlling airflow patterns, momentum, and humidity, and mimicking respiratory tract anatomy to produce droplets and aerosols, allowing for controlled and repeatable testing of exhalation events and protective equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spray atomization or nebulization processes are used to represent exhalations, then the system can generate aerosol emissions, but the emissions are overly simplistic and unrealistic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified model of the respiratory tract using 3D-printed airway geometries that replicate the essential turbulent flow characteristics of human respiratory systems. This copying approach allows realistic exhalation simulation without requiring complex biological systems, achieving reliability while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses controlled airflow systems with regulated pressure and flow rates to generate realistic exhalation patterns. By applying pneumatic principles through controllable gas flow, the system produces multiphase turbulent flows that accurately represent respiratory events without overly complex mechanical mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the respiratory tract geometry is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the geometric configuration and mechanical properties that shape multiphase flow characteristics are not represented
Solution Approach 1:
The respiratory tract is segmented into distinct 3D-printed components (trachea, oropharynx, mouth, nose) that can be individually optimized and assembled. This segmentation allows accurate representation of geometric configurations at each stage while maintaining overall system manageability and reducing total device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses controllable parameters such as airflow rate, pressure, and temperature to adjust multiphase flow characteristics. By changing these parameters, the system can accurately represent different respiratory events (breathing, coughing, sneezing) without requiring complex mechanical modifications to the airway geometry.
3Reliability
If exhalation samples are gathered from human subjects, then realistic emissions can be obtained, but the samples are limited and difficult to reproduce
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates its own exhalation emissions autonomously using the controlled airflow system and 3D-printed airway model, eliminating the need to collect samples from human subjects. This self-service capability ensures unlimited, reproducible emissions for testing while maintaining realistic characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can adjust airflow parameters (flow rate, pressure, duration) to reproduce different types of respiratory events consistently. This parametric control enables high productivity in generating various exhalation samples while ensuring reproducibility across multiple tests.
4Measurement precision
If the system controls airflow patterns, momentum, and humidity to generate realistic multiphase turbulent gas clouds, then accurate pathogen transmission analysis is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that monitor airflow parameters and adjust them in real-time to maintain realistic multiphase flow conditions. This feedback control enables precise measurement of pathogen transmission while automating the complexity of airflow management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic control elements (pressure regulators, flow meters, valves) to precisely control airflow patterns and momentum. These standardized pneumatic components provide measurement precision for pathogen transmission analysis while keeping the control system manageable through conventional engineering approaches.
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
Enables accurate analysis of pathogen transmission and the effectiveness of protective equipment by recreating realistic exhalation scenarios, providing insights into pathogen spread and the efficacy of risk-mitigation strategies.
Implementation Method 1
multiphase turbulent gas cloud nature of human and animal exhalation emission events
Implementation Method 2
the gas flow interacting with a liquid coating disposed in the airway... or the gas flow interacting with liquid injected into the airway system
Data Source
AI summary
Respiratory System Similation Systems that mimic human or other animal exhalation events are disclosed. Exhalation events that can be reproduced include coughing, sneezing, breathing, talking, gagging, panting, and singing. Air flow and airway systems cooperate to eject a gas cloud comprising the at least some air produced from the air flow system and one or more of a plurality of droplets, solid residues, or aerosols. The exhalation emission systems can be used in testing emissions in various environments, medical, and protective equipment usage situations. Methods related to the same are also disclosed.