Endotracheal Tube Unidirectional Flow for Sputum Excretion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current tracheal intubations are made of rigid materials that lack effective sputum excretion functionality, leading to inefficient sputum expulsion, increased sputum retention, and heightened infection risk due to stimulated mucus production and airflow dynamics.
Innovation Solution
A tracheal intubation with a unidirectional sputum-flow structure featuring partition and curved plates on the inner wall, forming liquid reservoirs and hydrophobic concave structures to facilitate unidirectional sputum flow, reducing reverse flow and enhancing expulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid tracheal intubation is used, then the respiratory tract can be kept open and ventilation maintained, but sputum excretion is inefficient and sputum retention increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner wall of the tracheal intubation is segmented into multiple functional zones: hydrophobic zones formed by curved plates that repel sputum, hydrophilic zones that attract and guide sputum flow, and partition plates that create channels. This segmentation enables different regions to perform different functions in the sputum excretion process while maintaining overall structural integrity for respiratory patency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the inner wall are given different surface properties: hydrophobic regions (curved plates) that prevent sputum adhesion and promote shedding, and hydrophilic regions (partition plates) that guide flow direction. This local differentiation of surface qualities enables the intubation to actively manage sputum movement rather than passively allowing accumulation.
2Length of moving object
If the tracheal intubation is long, then it can reach deep into the respiratory tract, but only a few excreta can be expelled in one breath and most excreta return under expiratory airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The curved plates are designed with asymmetric curvature that creates directional flow guidance. The convex side of each curved plate faces one direction while the concave side faces another, creating an asymmetric flow path that preferentially directs sputum toward the distal end during inspiration and prevents retrograde flow during expiration. This asymmetry converts the bidirectional airflow into predominantly unidirectional sputum transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved plates incorporate curved surfaces rather than flat surfaces, creating smooth transitions that guide sputum flow along the length of the intubation. The curvature of these plates matches the natural curvature of the respiratory tract, enabling effective sputum movement throughout the entire length of the intubation without creating dead zones where sputum could accumulate.
3Reliability
If the tracheal intubation stimulates mucus excreta from goblet cells, then the respiratory tract is protected, but the amount of sputum increases and the burden of sputum excretion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intubation design converts the potentially harmful effect of increased sputum production into a beneficial outcome by providing an efficient excretion pathway. The hydrophobic-hydrophilic patterned inner wall actively promotes rapid sputum movement and expulsion, transforming the problem of increased sputum volume into an opportunity for enhanced respiratory tract cleaning and protection.
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 unidirectional sputum-flow structure effectively accelerates sputum expulsion, reduces retention, and decreases respiratory infection risk by promoting one-way sputum movement, thereby improving sputum excretion efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A concave structure is formed between the hook-shaped portion at the one end of the curved plate and the curved plate, and the concave structure has a hydrophobic function and hinders the flow of sputum
Implementation Method 2
During expiration, sputum in the intubation is expelled under the pushing of expiratory airflow
Data Source
AI summary
A tracheal intubation with automatic sputum excretion by unidirectional sputum flow is disclosed and includes a layer of unidirectional sputum-flow structure laid in an inner wall of the endotracheal tube. The unidirectional sputum-flow structure includes multiple partition plates evenly arranged on the inner wall in a circumferential direction, and lengthwise directions of the partition plates are the same direction as an axial direction of the tracheal intubation, widthwise directions of the partition plates is in radial directions of the tracheal intubation, and multiple curved plates are provided at intervals between two adjacent partition plates, one end of each curved plate away from the inner wall bends towards one end of the tracheal intubation, and curved directions of the curved plates are the same.