Variable Volume Reservoir Anesthesia Vaporizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anesthesia vaporizer systems rely on pumps to provide pressurized anesthetic agents, which are prone to failure and increase system size, and pose challenges with pressure management and refill processes, especially for anesthetics like Isoflurane and Sevoflurane.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a pressurized gas source connected to a sump chamber, maintaining constant pressure to compress a variable volume reservoir, eliminating the need for a pump and allowing seamless refilling without venting anesthetic gas, using existing refill bottle adapters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a pump is used to provide pressurized anesthetic agent, then the anesthetic agent can be delivered at required pressure, but the system size increases and reliability decreases due to pump failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pump component from the anesthesia vaporizer system entirely. Instead of using a mechanical pump to pressurize and deliver the anesthetic agent, the system relies on the natural vapor pressure of the anesthetic agent itself to drive delivery through the vaporizer chamber, thereby eliminating the reliability issues associated with pump failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The anesthetic agent serves its own pressurization function through its inherent vapor pressure properties. The volatile anesthetic agent naturally vaporizes and creates pressure within the sealed reservoir, which automatically drives the agent through the vaporizer without requiring external mechanical assistance from a pump.
2Stress or pressure
If a pump is used to deliver pressurized liquid, then the agent can be forced through the vaporizer, but the system complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the pump component from the system, replacing the complex mechanical pressurization system with a simpler design that utilizes the natural vapor pressure of the anesthetic agent to drive flow through the vaporizer chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vapor pressure (a pneumatic principle) of the volatile anesthetic agent to create the necessary pressure differential for delivering the agent through the vaporizer, replacing mechanical hydraulic pumping with a pressure-based pneumatic system.
3Ease of manufacture
If the primary reservoir is disconnected for refilling, then liquid anesthetic agent can be poured in, but the system requires depressurization and venting which complicates the refill process
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir incorporates a flexible diaphragm that dynamically adjusts the reservoir volume and maintains pressure equilibrium during refilling. The diaphragm moves to accommodate incoming liquid while the pressure equalization valve dynamically balances pressure, allowing refilling without complete depressurization or disconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation during refilling through the pressure equalization mechanism. The flexible diaphragm and pressure equalization valve work together to allow liquid addition while maintaining operational pressure, eliminating the need to stop the refill process or vent anesthetic gases.
4Productivity
If pressure is maintained to force agent through vaporizer, then delivery is continuous, but refilling requires disconnecting and depressurizing the reservoir
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible diaphragm dynamically adjusts to maintain pressure differentials during both delivery and refilling operations. During normal operation, the diaphragm maintains pressure for continuous delivery; during refilling, it flexes to accommodate volume changes while the pressure equalization valve balances pressures, enabling seamless refilling without interrupting continuous delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure equalization valve acts as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the need for pressure maintenance during delivery and the pressure equalization needed during refilling. It selectively opens or closes to balance pressures, allowing refilling operations without requiring complete system depressurization or disconnection.
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 enhances the reliability and efficiency of anesthesia delivery by eliminating pump failures, reducing system size, and enabling continuous agent delivery during refilling, while maintaining compatibility with standard anesthetic bottles.
Implementation Method 1
A pressurized gas source is connected to the sump chamber and configured to maintain a constant pressure within the sump chamber to compress the variable volume reservoir at the constant pressure to force the anesthetic agent through the vaporizer
Implementation Method 2
a vaporizing unit or system that vaporizes the liquid anesthetic agent
Implementation Method 3
The agent is generally held to the vapor pressure of the agent which is a function of the agent temperature
Data Source
AI summary
An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a sump chamber, a variable volume reservoir within the sump chamber, and an anesthetic vaporizer. The variable volume reservoir is configured to contain anesthetic agent. A pressurized gas source is connected to the sump chamber and configured to maintain a constant pressure within the sump chamber to compress the variable volume reservoir to force the anesthetic agent through the anesthetic vaporizer, which vaporizes the liquid anesthetic agent for delivery to a patient.