Disposable Spirometry Filter Flowmeter Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spirometry devices face challenges with antimicrobial filters that can alter airflow characteristics, lead to poor filtering quality, and increase dead space, affecting measurement accuracy and patient safety.
Innovation Solution
A combined disposable device integrating an antimicrobial filter and a flowmeter, featuring a tubular body with a discoidal shell intermediate portion, a filtering membrane, and a pressure differential generator network made of plastic material, which reduces overall resistance and dead space while ensuring accurate flow measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an antimicrobial filter is interposed between the flowmeter and the user's mouth, then protection against microbial contamination is improved, but airflow resistance increases and measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flowmeter and antimicrobial filter into a single integrated disposable device. The filter is positioned within the flowmeter housing such that air flow passes through the filter first, then through the flow measurement elements. This merging eliminates the need for separate filter and flowmeter components, ensuring that the filter does not interfere with measurement accuracy while maintaining protection against microbial contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specially designed filter housing structure that acts as an intermediary between the filter and the flow measurement elements. This housing ensures proper air flow distribution and prevents direct contact between the filter material and the measurement sensors, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while preserving the filter's protective function.
2Reliability
If a disposable filter is used, then protection against cross-contamination is improved, but dead space volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin-film filter design that provides effective microbial barrier properties while occupying minimal volume. The filter membrane is designed with optimized thickness and porosity to achieve high filtration efficiency with reduced dead space, allowing the disposable device to maintain both protective function and compact dimensions.
3Reliability
If the filter geometry is optimized for filtration, then protection quality is improved, but airflow characteristics are altered and measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different geometric characteristics in different regions of the filter assembly. The filter media itself has optimized pore structure for high-quality filtration, while the surrounding housing and air flow channels are designed with smooth transitions and appropriate dimensions to maintain laminar flow and accurate measurement. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
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 device provides reduced airflow resistance, enhanced protection against microbial contamination, minimized dead space, and improved measurement accuracy, ensuring safe and reliable spirometry tests.
Implementation Method 1
a filtering membrane (5), arranged inside said intermediate portion of enlarged diameter, in such a way as to filter the entire airflow that passes through said tubular body
Implementation Method 2
a pressure differential generator member (6), in the form of a membrane parallel to and spaced apart from said filtering membrane, said pressure differential generator member being configured in such a way as to generate a pressure differential, in the entire airflow that passes through said tubular body
Data Source
AI summary
An entirely disposable combined antimicrobial filter and flowmeter device for spirometry applications comprises a tubular body, with an inlet end portion, an outlet end portion, and an intermediate portion of enlarged diameter in the form of a discoidal shell. In the discoidal shell both an antimicrobial filtering membrane and a discoidal net of plastic material generating a pressure differential are arranged, it has an outer peripheral edge fixed to an inner annular lip of one of said bell-shaped portions of the discoidal shell, said annular lip being coaxial to said cylindrical wall. One of the filtering membrane and the pressure differential generating network has an outer peripheral edge fixed to the cylindrical wall of the discoidal shell, while the other of the filtering membrane and the pressure differential generating network has an outer peripheral edge fixed to an inner annular lip of one of the bell-shaped portions defining the discoidal shell.