Universal Portable Ventilator for Continuous Patient Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient ventilation systems face challenges in providing continuous respiratory support, especially during transfers between ventilators, which can lead to disruptions in positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) and increased risk of nosocomial infections due to repeated disconnections and connections.
Innovation Solution
A portable ventilator system that can removably connect to various hosts, allowing it to drive ventilation gas from either a portable gas source or a host gas source, ensuring continuous ventilation support without the need for patient disconnection. The system automatically switches between gas sources based on availability and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a patient is transferred between different ventilator systems, then the patient can receive appropriate respiratory support for different settings, but the patient must be disconnected from one ventilator before connection to another, causing interruption of respiratory support
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator system is designed with universal compatibility to work with multiple host systems (anesthesia ventilators, ICU ventilators, transport ventilators) through standardized interfaces. The single ventilator unit can function across different care settings without requiring disconnection and reconnection, thereby maintaining continuous respiratory support while adapting to various ventilation requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If a patient is disconnected from one ventilator and connected to another, then the patient can receive appropriate care in different settings, but the airway is exposed to pathogens and nosocomial infections can occur
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a universal ventilator system that can interface with multiple host types (anesthesia, ICU, transport ventilators) through standardized connections, the system eliminates the need for patient disconnection during transfers between settings. This maintains airway closure and prevents exposure to pathogens that would otherwise occur during repeated connection and disconnection events
3Adaptability or versatility
If a patient is disconnected from ventilator support during transfer, then the patient can be moved between care settings, but PEEP levels may collapse and lung volume may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The universal ventilator system maintains continuous operation during patient transfers between care settings (anesthesia room, ICU, transport). The system remains connected to the patient throughout the transfer process, ensuring uninterrupted PEEP support and preventing lung volume collapse that would occur during disconnection events
4Ease of manufacture
If multiple different ventilator systems are used for different settings, then each ventilator can be optimized for its specific purpose, but the system complexity increases and patient transfer requires disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple separate ventilator systems optimized for different settings, the invention employs a single universal ventilator unit that can interface with multiple host systems (anesthesia ventilators, ICU ventilators, transport ventilators) through standardized interfaces. This reduces the total number of ventilator systems needed while maintaining optimization for different care settings through software configuration and interface compatibility
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable ventilator includes a ventilation drive configured to drive ventilation gas from a gas source to a patient, wherein the portable ventilator is configured to removably connect to a host such that when the portable ventilator is connected to the host the ventilation drive drives ventilation gas from a host gas source to the patient and when the portable ventilator is not connected to the host the ventilation drive drives ventilation gas from a portable gas source to the patient.