Breathing Circuit Segmentation for Inhalation-Only Oxygen Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional breathing circuits experience significant wastage of oxygen gas due to positive pressure and high flow rates during both inhalation and exhalation, leading to inefficient use of therapeutic supplements.
Innovation Solution
A breathing circuit design with separate passageways for supplying different gases during inhalation and exhalation, utilizing a flow assembly to manage gas flow based on the patient's breathing cycle, minimizing waste by ensuring the second gas is stored and used efficiently during inhalation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mixed breathing gas is supplied during both inhalation and exhalation phases, then positive pressure and high flow rates are maintained, but oxygen gas wastage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The breathing circuit is segmented into separate pathways: a first passageway for supplying first gas during exhalation and a second passageway for supplying first gas and second gas during inhalation. This segmentation allows selective delivery of oxygen (second gas) only when needed during inhalation, eliminating wastage during exhalation while maintaining positive pressure through continuous first gas supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow assembly implements periodic action by alternating between two modes: during inhalation, it supplies both first gas and second gas through the second passageway; during exhalation, it supplies only first gas through the first passageway. This periodic switching aligns oxygen delivery with the patient's breathing cycle, ensuring therapeutic benefit only when required.
2Productivity
If high flow rates are provided across the whole breathing cycle, then flushing benefits are achieved within the patient's anatomical deadspace, but oxygen consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by providing high flow rates of mixed gases only during inhalation when flushing is needed, rather than continuously during both inhalation and exhalation. The first gas maintains baseline flow during exhalation, while the expensive second gas (oxygen) is delivered only in the inhalation phase, achieving flushing benefits with reduced overall oxygen consumption.
3Device complexity
If a single passageway supplies mixed breathing gas, then the circuit structure is simple, but oxygen wastage occurs during exhalation
Solution Approach 1:
The single passageway is segmented into two separate passageways with distinct functions. The first passageway handles exhalation phase supply, while the second passageway handles inhalation phase supply. This segmentation enables selective oxygen delivery only during inhalation, eliminating wastage during exhalation while adding manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow assembly acts as an intermediary device that intelligently directs gas flow based on breathing phase detection. It receives first gas and optionally second gas, then routes them through appropriate passageways to the patient interface, mediating between gas sources and the patient to optimize oxygen delivery timing.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a breathing circuit and a method for providing respiratory support to a patient. The breathing circuit and method can be used in any type of breathing therapy including, for example unsealed respiratory therapy such as high flow therapy, and scaled respiratory therapy such as continuous positive air(way) pressure (CPAP) therapy, and bilevel positive air pressure therapy where the inspiratory and expiratory pressures differ. The breathing circuit includes first and second passageways that can convey a breathing gas to a patient interface, wherein the first passageway is connectable to a first gas source to supply a first gas, and the second passageway is connectable to the first gas source and to a second gas source.