Ventilation Device Cardiac Decompensation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ventilation devices lack the ability to effectively monitor and provide feedback on the quality of therapy for patients with heart failure and sleep-related breathing disorders, particularly in detecting early signs of cardiac decompensation, which can lead to increased mortality and high therapeutic costs.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation device integrated with sensors to monitor oxygen saturation, pulse wave, and respiration patterns, using pulse oximetry and pulse wave analysis to detect incipient decompensation, and provide visual or acoustic signals indicating deviations from target values, facilitating early intervention and therapy adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ventilation devices only display basic parameters (pressure, flow, volume), then the device complexity is low, but the ability to detect early signs of cardiac decompensation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capability for cardiac decompensationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor types (pressure sensors, flow sensors, volume sensors, pulse oximetry sensors, ECG electrodes) into a single integrated ventilation device. This merging of detection functions allows the device to monitor both respiratory parameters and cardiac indicators simultaneously, enabling early detection of cardiac decompensation without requiring separate monitoring devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation device is designed to perform multiple functions: providing ventilation therapy, monitoring respiratory parameters, detecting cardiac decompensation signs, and evaluating therapy quality. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address both respiratory support and cardiac monitoring needs, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If the ventilation device monitors multiple parameters continuously, then the detection precision improves, but the loss of information increases due to the large amount of data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precision of decompensation signsVSAvoidinformation management burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The device implements feedback mechanisms where measured parameters are continuously compared against reference ranges and previous measurements. The control unit automatically identifies trends and deviations, providing feedback to both the user interface and the ventilation control system. This reduces information loss by transforming raw data into meaningful clinical insights that highlight only relevant changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit performs preliminary analysis of sensor data in real-time, identifying early signs of decompensation before they become critical. By pre-processing and interpreting data continuously, the system prepares actionable information in advance, reducing the burden on users to analyze large volumes of raw data and ensuring critical information is not lost or overlooked.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the device provides detailed monitoring and analysis functions, then the therapy evaluation capability improves, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapy evaluation capabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation device performs self-evaluation of therapy quality by automatically analyzing its own operational parameters and sensor data. The control unit assesses whether ventilation goals are being met, detects therapy complications, and provides self-diagnostic information without requiring external interpretation. This self-service capability maintains high reliability while simplifying operation for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses color-coded visual indicators (such as traffic light systems with green, yellow, and red colors) to represent therapy quality and patient status. This intuitive visual feedback allows users to quickly grasp complex information at a glance, maintaining ease of operation while providing detailed monitoring and evaluation capabilities through universally understood color semantics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

4Productivity

If the ventilation device automatically adjusts therapy parameters, then the productivity of therapy optimization improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapy optimization efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors patient response to ventilation therapy and automatically adjusts parameters based on detected changes in respiratory and cardiac parameters. This feedback-driven automatic adjustment optimizes therapy productivity by adapting to patient needs in real-time, while the complexity is managed through algorithmic control rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The device automatically changes ventilation parameters (such as pressure levels, flow rates, or respiratory rates) based on detected patient condition changes. By implementing parameter changes through software control algorithms rather than mechanical adjustments, the system achieves high therapy optimization efficiency while keeping physical device complexity relatively low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables early detection of cardiac decompensation, reduces mortality, and provides economic benefits by preventing costly complications, while improving the effectiveness and appropriateness of ventilation therapy.

Implementation Method 1

using pulse oximetry and pulse wave analysis to detect incipient decompensation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulse oximetry: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The measured values of the sensors enable the pressure, flow and volume of the gases concerned to be determined

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure measurement:

Data Source

PatentEP2216063B1Automatic complication control
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 LOWENSTEIN MEDICAL TECH SA
  • EP2216063B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2216063B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2216063B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4C

AI summary

The device has a device housing (1) comprising a control panel (2), and a computing unit for storing and computing measured values of sensors. An input unit is provided for selecting data sets and comparison rules stored in the computing unit. The computing unit determines whether a set of detected processes in an overall time exceeds or falls below a determined value. The computing unit detects actuality of the processes, produces optical and/or acoustical signal at a point over a data connection and changes an operating mode of the breathing device. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling a breathing device.