Universal Atomizer With Modular Medicine Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nebulizers require specific positioning due to gravity-dependent medicine flow, leading to operational issues when inverted or deviated, and they often need to be replaced entirely for different treatments, causing cost, operational complexity, and potential cross-infection risks.
Innovation Solution
A core-changeable atomizer design featuring a detachable medicine module and control module, where the medicine module includes a cotton-based medicine liquid transporting element and an atomizing element controlled by the control module, allowing for quick replacement of medicines without needing to replace the entire device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional nebulizers rely on gravity for medicine flow, then the structure is simple, but the device requires specific positioning and cannot operate when inverted or deviated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the gravity-dependent mechanical flow system with an active pumping system. The pump module actively transports medicine liquid through the cotton column to the atomizing element, eliminating the need for gravity-assisted flow and enabling operation in any orientation without requiring structural modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The nebulizer is divided into separable modules: a reusable control module containing the pump and atomizing element, and a disposable medicine module containing the medicine reservoir and cotton column. This segmentation allows the complex active transport system to be isolated in the control module while keeping the medicine module simple and replaceable.
2Reliability
If the entire nebulizer is replaced for different treatments, then cross-infection risk is eliminated, but cost increases and operation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a reusable control module and a disposable medicine module. The medicine module can be quickly replaced between different treatments or patients, eliminating cross-infection risk while avoiding the need to replace the entire device. The control module remains in place and is not contaminated during medicine module replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The potentially contaminatable components (medicine reservoir and cotton column) are extracted into a separate disposable medicine module that can be removed and replaced without affecting the main control module. This extraction allows for rapid exchange of the contamination-prone parts while maintaining the integrity of the reusable components.
3Reliability
If the entire nebulizer is replaced for different treatments, then contamination is avoided, but time is lost due to breathing circuit interruption
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into modular components, only the small medicine module needs to be replaced rather than the entire nebulizer system. The breathing circuit remains connected to the stationary control module throughout the replacement process, minimizing interruption time and maintaining patient safety without compromising contamination avoidance.
4Loss of substance
If nebulizers are reused multiple times, then cost is reduced, but cleaning and disinfection become cumbersome and may lead to medicine mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The medicine module is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use or single patient treatment. This eliminates the need for cleaning and disinfection procedures, preventing medicine mixing and cross-contamination while keeping the overall cost effective by allowing reuse of the expensive control module.
5Device complexity
If no filter element is used in the medicine storage device, then the structure is simpler, but impurities cause mesh pores to clog and affect atomization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a cotton column with controlled porosity as a built-in filter within the medicine module. The porous structure of the cotton naturally filters impurities from the medicine liquid as it passes through to the atomizing element, preventing mesh pore clogging without adding separate filter components and maintaining structural simplicity.
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
This design eliminates gravity-dependent operation issues, enables quick and cost-effective medicine changes, reduces cross-infection risks by eliminating the need for cleaning and disinfection, and improves medical staff efficiency by allowing pre-prepared medicine doses.
Implementation Method 1
a medicine liquid transporting cotton 12 accommodated in the medicine containing cavity 13, wherein a liquid outlet is arranged near the mist outlet of the medicine liquid transporting cotton
Implementation Method 2
an atomizing element provided between the liquid outlet and the mist outlet; the atomizing element is electrically connected to and controlled by the control unit
Data Source
AI summary
An atomizer includes an atomization assembly and a medicine storage assembly idetachably coupled to the atomization assembly, wherein the medicine storage assembly includes a storage housing, and a medicine liquid transporting cotton disposed in the storage housing, wherein the atomization assembly includes a fixing housing and an atomizing element disposed in the fixing housing to align with the medicine liquid transporting cotton in a manner that the medicine liquid transporting element is arranged to deliver medicine liquid to the atomizing element.