Sealed Ventilating System with Piercing Connector for Aspiration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter tube connectors for tracheostomy and endotracheal ventilation systems face issues such as exposure to contaminants, discomfort due to high resistance, and difficulty in maintaining Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) during secretion removal, as they are either open to the atmosphere or require unsealing for maintenance, leading to potential infection and patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A sealed patient ventilating and aspirating system with a pressurized gas source, a tubular catheter mount, and a collapsible suction tube enveloped in a plastic envelope, featuring a re-sealing mechanism and a piercing member to minimize contact with external surfaces and maintain PEEP, allowing easy connection and disconnection without exposing the catheter tube to atmosphere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the aspirating tube is exposed to the atmosphere before insertion, then the tube can be easily accessed and inserted, but the tube becomes contaminated by pathogens and bacteria
Solution Approach 1:
The aspirating tube is nested within a sealed flexible plastic envelope that contains it in a sterile state. The envelope itself can be inserted through the seal, and the tube is then deployed from within the envelope, preventing atmospheric contamination while maintaining ease of access and insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The aspirating tube is pre-packaged in a sterile sealed envelope before use. This preliminary sealing action protects the tube from contamination prior to insertion, and the envelope is designed to be quickly opened or pierced at the point of use, maintaining both sterility and operational ease.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter tube passes through and over the seal, then the tube can be inserted into the patient, but high resistance causes patient discomfort and inadvertent movement of fittings
Solution Approach 1:
The aspirating tube is inserted within the sealed envelope, which acts as a protective sheath. The envelope passes through the seal with minimal resistance, and the tube is then deployed from within the envelope once inside the patient's airway, avoiding the high resistance problem of pushing the tube directly through the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed flexible plastic envelope acts as an intermediary medium between the aspirating tube and the seal. Instead of the tube directly contacting and pushing through the seal (causing high resistance), the envelope serves as a low-resistance mediator that facilitates easy passage while protecting the tube.
3Ease of repair
If the ventilator tube is unsealed for maintenance or replacement, then cleaning and component replacement can be performed, but airborne germs can enter the trachea and PEEP cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The aspirating assembly is nested within the sealed ventilating system. The proximal connector allows the aspirating assembly to be attached to or detached from the catheter mount while the seal remains intact and closed. This nested configuration enables maintenance of the aspirating components without compromising the sealed status of the ventilator tube, preventing airborne contamination and maintaining PEEP.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into separate functional modules: the sealed ventilating system and the separately attachable aspirating assembly. The proximal connector provides a interface that allows the aspirating assembly to be connected or disconnected without requiring the ventilator tube to be unsealed, enabling independent maintenance of each module while preserving the integrity of the sealed ventilation system.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the aspirating assembly is removed for replacement, then the tube can be changed, but the ventilating system must be unsealed, losing PEEP and allowing germ entry
Solution Approach 1:
The aspirating assembly is nested within the sealed system architecture, with the proximal connector enabling attachment and detachment of the aspirating assembly from the catheter mount without breaching the seal of the ventilating system. This allows replacement of the aspirating assembly while maintaining PEEP and preventing germ entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with separable modules where the aspirating assembly is an independent, replaceable component connected via the proximal connector. This segmentation allows the aspirating assembly to be replaced without affecting the sealed status of the ventilating system, maintaining both replaceability and PEEP reliability.
5Ease of operation
If the catheter tube end is fully exposed before connection, then the tube can be easily connected, but the tube makes contact with exposed portions of external surfaces, increasing infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The aspirating tube remains nested within the sealed envelope during the connection process. The envelope is inserted through the seal first, and only after the sealed envelope is in place is the tube deployed from within the envelope. This ensures the tube end does not contact exposed external surfaces, reducing infection risk while maintaining ease of connection through the sealed interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed envelope is inserted and positioned through the seal before the aspirating tube is deployed from within the envelope. This preliminary action of establishing the sealed pathway first prevents the tube end from contacting contaminated external surfaces, reducing infection risk while maintaining operational ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient ventilating (23) and aspirating system (9) is disclosed that has a suction tube (9) and connector (6) for connecting to a catheter mount that has a sealed passageway (15). The catheter mount passageway (15) is sealed with an elastomeric seal (16) including a perforation or slit (17). A connector (12) with a piercing member is associated with the suction tube (9). When the connector is attached to the catheter mount the piercing member (20) pierces the seal (16) such that the suction tube (9) can pass through the connector (6) and catheter mount.