Tracheobronchial Air Stimulation Control With Underpressure Threshold Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracheobronchial-air stimulation devices struggle to efficiently remove mucus from the lungs without causing discomfort or lung collapse, especially when mucus is viscous or elastic, and recent methods using underpressures during relaxed exhalation can lead to discomfort and incomplete mucus removal due to continuous pressure increase.
Innovation Solution
An automatic control system for a tracheobronchial-air stimulation device that measures real-time inner underpressure and adjusts the power of negative pressure pulses to maintain the underpressure below a predetermined threshold, ensuring comfortable and prolonged exhalation, thereby maximizing mucus removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If underpressures are continuously increased during relaxed exhalation to improve mucus removal efficiency, then mucus drainage effectiveness is improved, but subject discomfort increases and lung collapse risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a pressure sensor to continuously measure the inner underpressure applied to the respiratory system, and a calculation module compares this measured value with a predetermined threshold. When the threshold is reached or exceeded, the control module automatically adjusts the power value to reduce underpressure, ensuring it remains below the threshold. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by dynamically balancing mucus removal efficiency with subject comfort and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the power value applied to the pressure unit based on real-time pressure measurements. Rather than applying a fixed or continuously increasing underpressure, the system modulates the pressure levels adaptively, increasing pressure when below threshold to improve mucus drainage and reducing pressure when threshold is approached to prevent discomfort and lung collapse.
2Productivity
If positive pressure pulses are delivered during inhalation and negative pressure pulses during exhalation to stimulate cough and separate mucus, then mucus separation is improved, but physical discomfort increases and lung collapse may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful coughing action from the treatment process by eliminating the positive pressure pulse phase that triggers cough. Instead of using both positive and negative pressure pulses, the system applies only negative pressure pulses during relaxed exhalation, thereby achieving mucus separation without the physical discomfort and lung collapse risks associated with cough stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful effect of high underpressure (which can cause discomfort and lung collapse) into a beneficial controlled parameter by establishing a predetermined threshold and using real-time monitoring to maintain pressure below this threshold, thereby transforming a risk factor into a controlled treatment parameter.
3Productivity
If the amplitude of pressure pulses is increased to enhance mucus removal, then mucus drainage effectiveness is improved, but lung collapse risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time pressure monitoring with a predetermined threshold to prevent underpressure amplitude from exceeding safe levels. The calculation module continuously compares measured inner underpressure with the threshold, and the control module adjusts the power value accordingly, ensuring the amplitude remains within safe limits while maintaining effective mucus drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power parameter dynamically based on pressure feedback rather than using fixed high-amplitude pulses. By adjusting the power value in real-time based on the comparison between measured underpressure and threshold, the system optimizes the pressure amplitude parameter to achieve effective mucus removal without exceeding safe limits that could cause lung collapse.
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 system allows for prolonged and efficient mucus drainage by preventing excessive underpressure, reducing discomfort, and ensuring complete lung emptying during relaxed exhalations, enhancing the effectiveness of mucus removal sessions.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor configured to measure, after each pulse generated by the pressure unit, an inner underpressure applied to the respiratory system of the subject
Implementation Method 2
a pressure unit configured to generate, during a relaxed exhalation of the subject, a set of negative pressure pulses
Data Source
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AI summary
An automatic control system for a tracheobronchial-air stimulation device (10) intended to be connected to a subject, the stimulation device (10) comprising a pressure unit (13) configured to generate a set of negative pressure pulses during a relaxed exhalation of the subject, each pulse corresponding to a power of the pressure unit (13), and a connection assembly (11, 12) configured to connect the pressure unit (13) to the respiratory system of the subject, wherein the control system comprises: - a pressure sensor (15) configured to measure, after each pulse generated by the pressure unit (13), an inner underpressure (P) applied to the respiratory system of the subject corresponding to said pulse, - a calculation module (32) configured to compare in real-time the absolute value of the measured inner underpressure (P) with a predetermined threshold (S) and, based on the comparison result, determine an updated power value to be applied to the pressure unit (13) so that the absolute value of a subsequent inner underpressure (P) corresponding to the updated power value is below the absolute value of the threshold (S), - a control module (33) configured to apply the updated power value to the pressure unit (13) before generation of the next pulse.