Patient-proximate vapor transfer unit for respiratory therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory assist devices face challenges in managing heated and humidified breathing gas, as moisture can condense and accumulate in the ventilation circuit, posing clinical and mechanical issues, and heated wires present safety hazards and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
A vapor transfer unit is positioned proximate to the patient interface to reduce the distance heated and humidified gas travels, minimizing condensation and using a membrane to transfer vapor from a liquid passage to a gas passage, separating the liquid and gas sources to allow for efficient humidification and heating closer to the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If heated and humidified breathing gas is delivered through long tubing from a remote source, then the patient can receive supplemental breathing gas, but moisture condenses and accumulates in the ventilation circuit causing clinical and mechanical challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the breathing gas delivery into two segments: a long gas delivery tube from the remote source to the vapor transfer unit, and a short vaporized gas tube from the vapor transfer unit to the patient interface. This segmentation allows the vapor transfer unit to be positioned closer to the patient, reducing the length of tubing where condensation can occur while still enabling remote gas delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The vapor transfer unit acts as an intermediary device positioned between the remote gas source and the patient interface. It receives breathing gas through a long tube, vaporizes it, and delivers the vaporized gas through a short tube to the patient, thereby eliminating condensation issues in the final delivery path.
2Temperature
If heated wires are used to heat the tube carrying humidified breathing gas, then the gas can be maintained at appropriate temperature, but safety hazards and increased complexity arise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical heated wire system with a vaporization-based heating system. The vapor transfer unit vaporizes breathing gas using a heating element contained within the unit, eliminating the need for heated wires along the tubing. This substitution removes the overheating safety hazard while maintaining appropriate gas temperature.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the vapor transfer unit is positioned closer to the patient interface than to the gas source, then condensation is reduced, but the system configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tubing system is segmented into two distinct parts: a long gas delivery tube from the remote source to the vapor transfer unit, and a short vaporized gas tube from the vapor transfer unit to the patient interface. This segmentation naturally accommodates the vapor transfer unit's proximity to the patient while using a long tube for remote gas delivery, simplifying the overall configuration.
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 configuration reduces condensation, simplifies the system, and eliminates safety hazards, enabling effective and efficient heating and humidification of breathing gas while allowing for flexibility in respiratory therapy types and sources.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane separating the gas passage and the liquid passage, wherein the membrane is positioned to transfer vapor from the liquid passage to the gas passage
Implementation Method 2
the membrane is positioned to transfer vapor from the liquid passage to the gas passage
Implementation Method 3
a first liquid tube couples the heated liquid outlet to the liquid inlet of the vapor transfer unit. A second gas tube has a second length and connects the gas outlet to a patient interface
Data Source
AI summary
A system for humidifying a breathing gas is presented. The system (100) includes a source (124) of pressurized breathing gas (105), an external vapor transfer unit (101), a first gas tube (120) connecting the source of pressurized breathing gas to the gas inlet (104) of the vapor transfer unit and having a first length (L1), a liquid supply having a heater that heats liquid, a first liquid tube coupling the liquid supply to the liquid inlet (110) of the vapor transfer unit, and a second gas tube (128) having a second length (L2) and connecting the gas outlet (106) of the vapor transfer unit to a patient interface (151). The first length is greater than the second length. The vapor transfer unit includes a gas passage (108), a liquid passage (114), and a vapor permeable membrane (116) separating the gas passage and the liquid passage.