Respiratory Vent Adaptor With Membrane-Controlled CO2 Washout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory therapy devices, such as CPAP machines and masks, face challenges in comfort, ease of use, and compliance due to issues like discomfort, noise, and poor fit, leading to reduced patient adherence to treatment.
Innovation Solution
A respiratory pressure therapy system with a novel vent assembly and patient interface design that includes a seal-forming structure, positioning and stabilizing structure, and a vent system with a membrane that adjusts to maintain constant vent flow across therapeutic pressures, reducing noise and improving comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a membrane is added to adjust vent flow, then vent flow consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A membrane is introduced as an intermediary component between the patient interface and the vent housing. The membrane responds to pressure changes by adjusting the vent flow path, maintaining consistent vent flow across different therapeutic pressures without requiring complex electronic control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane's physical state changes in response to pressure variations within the patient interface. As pressure increases, the membrane deforms to restrict flow through the first orifice while opening the second orifice, automatically maintaining constant vent flow without external control
2Reliability
If vent flow is increased to improve CO2 washout, then breathing resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system dynamically adjusts its flow characteristics based on real-time pressure conditions. The membrane responds to pressure changes by selectively opening or closing different orifices, providing optimal vent flow at each pressure level to balance CO2 washout with minimal breathing resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pressure feedback from the patient interface to automatically regulate vent flow. The membrane's position is determined by the instantaneous pressure within the patient interface, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal vent flow without external intervention
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 system enhances patient comfort and compliance by minimizing noise and maintaining consistent vent flow, reducing unnecessary airflow, and simplifying the therapy device design for improved power efficiency and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane positioned adjacent to the base, wherein the membrane is elastically deformable due to pressure within the pressurized volume to apportion the vent flow between the at least one first orifice and the at least one second orifice throughout the therapeutic pressure range
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A vent system for use with a patient interface during respiratory therapy of a patient with a therapy flow of gas pressurized above ambient pressure, the vent system providing a vent flow of gas to discharge gas exhaled by the patient from a pressurized volume, the vent flow of gas being continuous during the respiratory therapy, the vent system comprising a vent housing comprising a base having at least one first orifice extending through the base to allow gas to be discharged to atmosphere from the pressurized volume; at least one second orifice to allow gas to be discharged to atmosphere from the pressurized volume; a vent housing connector having a second orifice configured to direct the therapy flow of gas to the patient interface; a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) comprising an HME housing and an HME material within the HME housing; and a membrane positioned adjacent to the base, wherein the vent housing and the vent housing connector are configured to be connected to, at least in part, form a cavity, and wherein the HME is positioned in the cavity when the vent system is assembled, wherein the pressurized volume is in fluid communication with atmosphere through the at least one first orifice and the at least one second orifice throughout a therapeutic pressure range, and wherein the membrane is elastically deformable due to pressure within the pressurized volume to apportion the vent flow of gas between the at least one first orifice and the at least one second orifice throughout the therapeutic pressure range.