Smart Backup Breath Delivery Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current artificial ventilation techniques are sub-optimal in managing varying breathing patterns, particularly intolerant of pauses, leading to unnecessary and uncomfortable backup breaths, and fail to deliver sufficient backup breaths during apnea.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that include a smart backup breath delivery module to delay the onset of the first backup breath, allowing selection of an appropriate backup rate by measuring the previous breath interval and delaying the onset based on a calculated first backup period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If backup breaths are delivered exactly one breath period after the last trigger, then the backup rate is maintained, but patient discomfort increases and asynchronous ventilation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackup breath deliveryVSAvoidpatient discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the timing of backup breath delivery based on real-time detection of patient breathing patterns. Instead of using a fixed breath period interval, the ventilator monitors for actual patient triggers and adapts the backup breath timing to match the patient's varying respiratory needs, thereby preventing discomfort and asynchrony.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilator implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors patient breathing triggers and uses this information to adjust backup breath delivery timing. The system detects when the patient initiates a breath and uses this feedback to delay or advance backup breath delivery, ensuring synchronization with the patient's actual respiratory rhythm rather than relying on predetermined intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If backup rate is set to a very low value, then patient discomfort is reduced, but sufficient ventilation is not provided when patient becomes apneic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient discomfortVSAvoidventilatory support during apnea
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the backup breath timing based on the patient's actual breathing pattern rather than using a fixed low backup rate. When the patient is breathing spontaneously, backup breaths are delayed to avoid discomfort. When the patient becomes apneic (stops breathing), the system detects the absence of triggers and automatically provides sufficient backup ventilation, thus resolving the contradiction between comfort and adequate support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilator monitors its own operation and the patient's response, automatically adjusting backup breath delivery based on detected patient triggers. The system serves itself by using its own monitoring capabilities to determine when backup ventilation is truly needed, eliminating the need for clinicians to manually set conservative low backup rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If backup breaths are delivered at fixed intervals, then the backup rate is maintained, but the system cannot adapt to varying breathing patterns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackup breath delivery efficiencyVSAvoidresponse to breathing variations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static fixed-interval backup breath delivery to dynamic timing based on real-time patient breathing patterns. The ventilator continuously monitors for patient triggers and adjusts backup breath timing accordingly, allowing the system to adapt to accelerated breathing, pauses, and apneic episodes while maintaining efficient ventilatory support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from patient breathing triggers to adjust backup breath delivery timing. When patient triggers are detected, the system adapts the backup breath schedule to match the patient's actual respiratory rhythm, enabling the ventilator to respond to varying breathing patterns rather than imposing a rigid fixed interval schedule.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8726902B2System and method for smart delivery of backup breaths
Publication Date: 2014.05.20 GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
  • US8726902B2 patent drawing
  • US8726902B2 patent drawing
  • US8726902B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for delivering ventilatory support to a patient is presented. The method includes controlling delivery of a first backup breath by delaying onset of the first backup breath, wherein delaying the onset of the first backup breath is configured to allow selection of an appropriate backup rate. Systems and computer-readable medium that afford functionality of the type defined by this method is also contemplated in conjunction with the present technique.