Respiratory Vent Adaptor With Pressure-Balanced Quiet Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapy devices and patient interfaces for treating sleep disordered breathing and other respiratory disorders often suffer from discomfort, poor fit, noise, and reduced patient compliance due to issues with seal-forming portions, positioning, and vent technologies.
Innovation Solution
The development of a patient interface with a compliant face seal and a retention mechanism, along with a fluid connector system that ensures secure and comfortable connection between the respiratory pressure therapy device and the patient interface, and a vent system that maintains a constant vent flow rate across therapeutic pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vent assembly with multiple holes is used to discharge pressurized gas, then vent flow is improved, but noise is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating zones of different hole sizes within the annular surface. The first group of holes has a first size and the second group of holes has a second size, allowing different regions to serve different functions - smaller holes for quieter operation and larger holes for higher flow capacity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent assembly is segmented into multiple groups of holes with different characteristics. The annular surface is divided into a first group of holes and a second group of holes, enabling the system to distribute gas flow across multiple pathways with varying flow rates and noise characteristics.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a membrane is added to maintain constant vent flow rate, then vent flow stability is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane operates autonomously based on pressure differential alone, without requiring external control systems. It automatically adjusts its position to maintain constant vent flow rate - moving to cover more holes when pressure increases and exposing more holes when pressure decreases, thereby self-regulating the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary element between the pressurized gas source and the multiple holes in the annular surface. It mediates the pressure-flow relationship by dynamically adjusting which holes are open, translating pressure variations into controlled flow output.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a diffusing member is added to reduce noise, then noise is reduced, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusing member utilizes pneumatic principles to manage gas flow. It provides a flow path that allows pressurized gas to expand and diffuse in a controlled manner, converting high-velocity direct flow into lower-velocity dispersed flow, thereby reducing noise without requiring mechanical moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusing member serves as an intermediary between the vent assembly and the external environment. It intercepts the discharged pressurized gas and transforms its flow characteristics before release, acting as a noise-reducing buffer zone.
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
The proposed solution enhances patient comfort and compliance by providing a secure, comfortable, and effective seal, reduces noise and vent flow variability, and simplifies the respiratory therapy system, leading to improved therapeutic outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane positioned adjacent to the annular surface, wherein the membrane is movable such that the membrane is urged against the annular surface of the vent housing as the pressure of the pressurized gas within the vent assembly increases
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an elbow assembly for use with a patient interface during respiratory therapy of a patient with a therapy flow of gas pressurized above ambient pressure. The elbow assembly provides a vent flow of gas to discharge gas exhaled by the patient from a pressurized volume within the elbow assembly. The vent flow is continuous during the respiratory therapy. The elbow assembly comprises an elbow having a first end configured to be connected to an air delivery tube and a second end opposite the first end; and a vent housing connected to the second end and comprising a base having a plurality of inner orifices extending through the base and configured to allow gas to be discharged to atmosphere from the pressurized volume and a plurality of outer orifices positioned radially outward of the plurality of inner orifices, extending through the base, and configured to allow gas to be discharged to atmosphere from the pressurized volume. The elbow assembly further comprises a membrane constructed from an elastically deformable material, the membrane being positioned parallel and adjacent to the base, in an undeformed state, to allow a first portion of the vent flow to discharge to atmosphere through the plurality of inner orifices and a second portion of the vent flow to discharge to atmosphere through the plurality of outer orifices throughout a therapeutic pressure range. The membrane is elastically deformable due to pressure within the pressurized volume to apportion the first portion of the vent flow and the second portion of the vent flow between the plurality of inner orifices and the plurality of outer orifices, respectively, depending on the pressure within the pressurized volume throughout the therapeutic pressure range.