Incentive Spirometer Combining PEP and Inhalation Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional respiratory therapy devices are time-consuming, inefficient, and result in significant aerosol particle loss due to separate exhalation and inhalation treatments, with patients often failing to perform treatments correctly without supervision, leading to inadequate drug delivery and poor lung clearance.

Innovation Solution

A novel incentive spirometer that combines inhalation drug delivery with lung-clearing exercises, providing visual feedback and recording successful events, allowing alternating breaths for efficient treatment, minimizing aerosol loss, and integrating with standard respiratory devices to monitor and record therapy data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate exhalation and inhalation treatments are performed sequentially, then each treatment can be performed with dedicated devices, but treatment time increases and patient compliance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines exhalation treatment device and inhalation drug delivery device into a single integrated respiratory device. The device includes a valve system that directs exhaled air through a PEP valve during exhalation and delivers medicated aerosol through an inhalation valve during inhalation, allowing both treatments to be performed sequentially without removing the device or requiring separate equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The respiratory device performs multiple functions: it provides positive exhalation pressure treatment, delivers inhalation medication, and includes feedback mechanisms to monitor and guide patient performance. The single device replaces what would traditionally require separate PEP device and nebulizer/inhaler equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If aerosol particles are not constrained in the aerosol section, then device complexity is reduced, but aerosol particles are lost through condensation and escape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerosol constraint mechanismVSAvoidaerosol particle loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the exhalation phase to beneficially clear the aerosol section of accumulated particles. During exhalation, the valve system directs airflow that sweeps remaining aerosol particles out of the aerosol section and through the PEP valve, converting what would be waste condensation into useful particle removal and preventing losses during subsequent inhalation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses periodic alternation between exhalation and inhalation phases to manage aerosol particles. Each exhalation cycle serves to clear the aerosol section, preparing it for the next inhalation dose, creating a rhythmic pattern that prevents particle accumulation and loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If patients perform lung-clearing exercises without supervision, then medical personnel time is reduced, but treatment correctness and compliance decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedical personnel efficiencyVSAvoidtreatment correctness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device includes feedback mechanisms that provide real-time guidance to patients during lung-clearing exercises. Sensors detect exhalation pressure and duration, and the device provides visual or audible feedback to confirm correct performance, allowing patients to self-monitor and ensure proper technique without continuous medical supervision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The device enables patients to independently perform and verify their own treatments. The feedback system allows patients to self-correct their technique, and the device records treatment data for later review by medical personnel, transferring the monitoring function from continuous supervision to automated self-service with periodic verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If exhalation pressure is increased to improve phlegm clearance, then lung clearance effectiveness increases, but patient exhaustion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephlegm clearance effectivenessVSAvoidpatient effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device allows alternating between exhalation treatment and inhalation medication delivery, maintaining continuous therapeutic action. The inhalation phase provides bronchodilator medication that keeps airways open and reduces resistance, making subsequent exhalation efforts more effective at lower pressures, thereby sustaining clearance effectiveness while reducing patient fatigue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11045112B2Incentive spirometer

Publication Date: 2021.06.29 REED GEORGE

AI summary

A respiratory therapy device that is adapted to matingly connect with two standardized respiratory devices simultaneously to allow for combination, enhanced, single device, respiratory treatments. It monitors the number of PEP treatment events utilizing a motion sensor, and presents a resettable, visual stimulus for each event as well as providing a record of the events in each therapy cycle.