Silent Thoracic Drainage Device with Inclined Duct
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thoracic drainage devices suffer from noise and fluctuations in vacuum levels due to the inherent design, which affects the accuracy of air loss measurement and overall functionality.
Innovation Solution
The device features a three-chamber design with a water column in the third chamber to maintain constant vacuum, an inclined duct for bubble formation to reduce noise, and a phase separator to separate air and water, along with a measurement mechanism using a bell to quantify air losses, and a clamping plate for adjustable functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a water column is used to maintain constant vacuum in the third chamber, then vacuum stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into three separate chambers: a first chamber for collecting exuded liquids, a second chamber for measuring air losses, and a third chamber for adjusting and stabilizing vacuum. This segmentation allows each chamber to perform its specific function independently, with the third chamber's water column providing vacuum stability without interfering with the measurement functions of the other chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The water column in the third chamber acts as an intermediary element that stabilizes the vacuum pressure before it is transmitted to the first and second chambers. By positioning the water column as an intermediate stage in the vacuum system, fluctuations from the vacuum source are dampened, providing constant vacuum to the measurement chambers.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If an inclined duct is used for bubble formation, then noise is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The duct leading to the bubbling partition is designed with an inclined configuration rather than a symmetric vertical orientation. This asymmetric inclination causes bubbles to form and rise in a controlled manner along the slanted surface, reducing the turbulence and noise typically generated by vertical bubble formation, while the inclination angle can be optimized to balance noise reduction with manufacturing feasibility.
3Measurement precision
If a phase separator is added to separate air and water, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A phase separator is introduced as a distinct component within the second chamber to separate the air-gas phase from the water liquid phase. This extracted separation function ensures that only dry air reaches the measurement mechanism, preventing water interference with the air loss measurement, while the separator itself is designed to be integrated into the existing chamber structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase separator utilizes the natural properties of immiscible phases (air and water) to automatically separate them without requiring external power or complex control mechanisms. The separator design allows denser water to settle at the bottom while lighter air rises to the top, providing passive, self-service phase separation that enhances measurement precision without adding active complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If three interconnected chambers are used, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The three-chamber design provides multi-functionality within a single integrated device: the first chamber collects and measures exuded liquids, the second chamber measures air losses, and the third chamber regulates vacuum pressure. Each chamber serves multiple purposes - for example, the water in the third chamber both stabilizes vacuum and can be monitored for fluid levels, while the connecting ducts serve both as pathways for fluid/air flow and as structural elements.
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 solution effectively reduces noise, maintains constant vacuum levels, and enhances the accuracy of air loss measurement, improving the overall functionality and usability of the thoracic drainage device.
Implementation Method 1
A third chamber (300) is provided wherein the adjustment of the vacuum that takes place in the two previously described chambers takes place in a known manner. In the third chamber there is in fact a water column (14), which is typically 20 centimeters high and through which atmospheric air is made to pass by bubbling
Implementation Method 2
a particular shaping has been provided for the duct (16), which conveys atmospheric air to the bubbling partition (15) provided monolithically with the structure of the device, by shaping the end portion of the bottom wall of the duct so as to form an inclined plane (20), thereby determining access of the atmospheric air to the bubbling partition (15) at the transverse side (15a)
Implementation Method 3
the separation partition, i.e., the partition that in such embodiment was indicated by the reference numeral 23b, is provided here in the form of a cradle (30), which is connected to the wall (7c) and has a port (30a) for discharging the water
Data Source
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AI summary
A thoracic drainage device, comprising, in a monolithic structure, three interconnected contiguous chambers, which are adapted to be placed in partial vacuum by being connected to a source of suction which is capable of creating, within the device, a condition of vacuum which conveys away from the patient the exuded liquids and the air losses, said chambers comprising: a first chamber (100) for collecting the exuded liquids, which is adapted to be connected by means of a tube to the thoracic cavity of a patient, so as to receive the exuded liquids and the air losses that exit from the cavity; a second sealing chamber (200), provided at the bottom with a device (11) for measuring the air losses; a third chamber (300) for adjusting the vacuum that occurs within the two preceding chambers, comprising a column of water (14) through which atmospheric air is made to pass which enters at the bottom formed by a perforated bubbling partition (15) and is conveyed thereat by a duct (16) after entering through a perforated plug (18) in order to be evacuated through a connector (8) which is designed to be connected to the source of suction, the device further comprising, within the monolithic structure, means adapted to reduce noisiness, which comprise a shape of the end that lies proximate to the bubbling partition (15) of the duct for conveying atmospheric air to the partition.