Resuscitator Volume Control Mechanism Preventing Overinflation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional manual resuscitators risk overinflation and overventilation during resuscitation, leading to complications such as gastric insufflation, lung injury, and poor circulation, especially in children, due to the inability to accurately control the volume and rate of breaths.

Innovation Solution

A device integrated into the gas flow circuit of manual resuscitators that adjusts the volume and rate of breaths based on subject metrics, such as weight, using a volume control mechanism and timing device to prevent overinflation and overventilation, with features like a metronome and visual indicators to assist healthcare providers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual resuscitators provide positive pressure ventilation to subjects, then ventilation support is achieved, but overinflation and overventilation occur causing gastric insufflation, lung injury, and poor circulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilation support effectivenessVSAvoidoverinflation and overventilation complications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device changes the parameters of breath delivery by controlling and limiting the volume of each breath to a predetermined maximum value. The volume control mechanism adjusts the delivery parameters to prevent overinflation while maintaining adequate ventilation support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates feedback through visual indicators that provide real-time information to the operator about the volume of breaths being delivered. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to adjust their squeezing force on the resuscitation bag to maintain breath volumes within safe limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If breath volume is increased to ensure adequate ventilation, then oxygen delivery is improved, but gastric insufflation and lung injury from over-stretching occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreath volumeVSAvoidgastric insufflation and volutrauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs preliminary action by pre-setting the maximum breath volume before ventilation begins. The volume control mechanism is configured in advance to limit the maximum volume of air that can be delivered to the patient, preventing gastric insufflation and volutrauma before they can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device applies parameter changes by establishing a predetermined maximum volume parameter for each breath. This parameter is set based on patient characteristics and clinical guidelines, ensuring that breath volume remains within the safe range to prevent harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If breath rate is increased to improve oxygenation, then ventilation effectiveness is enhanced, but intrathoracic pressure increases causing poor venous return

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilation rateVSAvoidpoor circulation due to increased intrathoracic pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies periodic action by using a metronome to provide rhythmic auditory or visual cues at a predetermined optimal rate. This periodic guidance helps the operator maintain an appropriate breath rate that improves oxygenation without causing harmful increases in intrathoracic pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The metronome provides feedback in the form of timing cues that guide the operator to deliver breaths at the optimal rate. This feedback mechanism helps synchronize breath delivery with the patient's physiological needs while preventing excessive ventilation rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Force

If higher pressure is applied to ensure breath delivery, then ventilation effectiveness is improved, but barotrauma and lung injury from over-pressurization occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreath delivery pressureVSAvoidbarotrauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies parameter changes by controlling the pressure parameter through volume limitation. By restricting the maximum volume of each breath, the device indirectly controls the pressure generated during ventilation, preventing barotrauma while maintaining adequate breath delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Visual indicators provide feedback to the operator about the pressure and volume of breaths being delivered. This real-time information allows the operator to adjust their technique to deliver effective ventilation without generating harmful pressures that could cause barotrauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10850055B2Adjustably controlling rescue or assisted breaths

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 LOS ANGELES BIOMEDICAL RES INST AT HARBOR UCLA MEDICAL CENT

AI summary

Described are overinflation and/or overventilation devices. The devices can include a body configured to attach to a resuscitation interface and a gas source, a subject metric input component disposed at the body, the subject metric input component configured to receive input specifying a metric associated with a resuscitation subject; and a volume control mechanism disposed within the body, the volume control mechanism configured to control a volume of gas provided by the gas source during a manual resuscitation that is communicated to the resuscitation interface based on the metric provided by the subject metric input component. Methods of using these devices are also included.