Unidirectional Respiration Connector Preventing Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior respiration systems suffer from contamination issues due to bidirectional volume flows through connectors, leading to bacterial and viral accumulation, which cannot be sterilized and can spread to the breathing system, affecting patient safety and system reliability.
Innovation Solution
A unidirectional volume flow is implemented through the connector system between the respirator and the breathing system, preventing bacterial and viral accumulation by ensuring gas flow only from the breathing system to the respirator, and integrating sensors within the respirator to prevent contamination of measuring lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bidirectional volume flow is allowed through connectors for flexible operation, then ease of operation is improved, but contamination with bacteria and viruses occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by reversing the flow direction through the connector. Instead of allowing bidirectional flow, the connector is designed to permit flow only in one direction (from breathing system to respirator), thereby preventing contamination while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector acts as an intermediary element between the breathing system and the respirator. It is designed with asymmetric flow characteristics that allow easy connection and disconnection while preventing reverse flow, thus mediating between operational flexibility and contamination prevention.
2Ease of repair
If connectors are made detachable for sterilization purposes, then ease of repair is improved, but contamination spread increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design inverts the typical detachable connection by making the breathing system side detachable while the respirator side remains fixed. This allows the breathing system to be sterilized separately without exposing the respirator to contaminants, preventing contamination spread while maintaining ease of sterilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two parts: a detachable breathing system that can be sterilized and a fixed respirator that remains in place. The connector enables this segmentation, allowing the breathing system to be separated for sterilization while the respirator stays connected to the patient, thus preventing contamination spread.
3Reliability
If unidirectional volume flow is implemented to prevent contamination, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed to enforce unidirectional flow through its inherent asymmetric geometry rather than requiring active control mechanisms. The design itself provides the contamination prevention function, making the system self-regulating and avoiding additional complex components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design changes the flow parameter from bidirectional to unidirectional by incorporating asymmetric internal geometry. This parameter change is achieved through the physical design of the connector passages, which allow flow in one direction but block reverse flow, thereby preventing contamination without adding complex control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A respiration system with a respirator (2) and with a breathing system (1), which is detachably coupled with the respirator. The coupling between the respirator and the breathing system takes place by at least two connector systems (3). The coupling between the respirator and the breathing system is designed such that the volume flow through the connector systems always takes place in only one direction. A pressure sensor (9; 9′) is preferably combined with at least one of the connector systems (3) such that a unidirectional volume flow, by which the direction of migration of bacteria through the connector system is influenced in the desired manner, becomes established within this connector system (3), as a result of which the connector system and the coupled sensor are kept free from bacteria, viruses and other contaminants.