Ventilation Flow Sensor with Hydrophobic Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow sensors for ventilation therapy are prone to moisture, fluid, and debris accumulation, leading to inaccurate measurements and are cumbersome for use in emergency medical settings, limiting their effectiveness in field applications.
Innovation Solution
A flow sensor system with a hydrophobic sensitive region and a neighboring reservoir to collect water, featuring a flow restrictor that creates a pressure drop for measuring gas flow rate and volume, and a processor for generating feedback signals to adjust ventilation based on measured parameters, including peak inspiratory pressure, flow rate, and volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single differential pressure sensor is used in conventional flow sensors, then the sensor can measure flow rate, but the sensor becomes large, expensive, and prone to moisture and debris accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sensor is divided into multiple functional components: a flow restrictor element that creates a pressure drop, separate pressure sensing ports positioned upstream and downstream of the restrictor, and a hydrophobic barrier layer that segments the sensing regions from moisture accumulation zones. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while reducing overall complexity and improving reliability in emergency settings.
2Measurement precision
If conventional flow sensors are used in emergency settings, then they can provide flow measurements, but they become cumbersome and require substantial tubing that may kink or cause complications
Solution Approach 1:
The flow restrictor, pressure sensing ports, and measurement electronics are merged into a single integrated sensor assembly that can be directly attached to the patient's airway without requiring extensive external tubing. This integration eliminates the need for separate tubing connections, reduces the risk of kinking, and makes the device much easier to operate in emergency field settings while maintaining accurate flow measurement capabilities.
3Productivity
If a flow sensor is placed in the patient airway to measure flow rate, then real-time feedback can be provided, but the sensor becomes vulnerable to moisture, fluid, and debris accumulation that disrupts operation
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrophobic barrier layer is introduced as an intermediary between the patient's airway environment and the sensor's sensitive components. This barrier layer allows gas molecules to pass through for measurement while blocking moisture, fluids, and debris from reaching and disrupting the pressure sensing ports and electronics, thereby maintaining reliable operation during real-time ventilation monitoring.
4Loss of information
If ETCO2 or SpO2 measurements are used to monitor ventilation, then some information about patient status can be obtained, but there is significant time delay and these measurements do not directly reflect gas delivery flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sensor provides direct real-time feedback about the flow rate and volume of gas being delivered to the patient's lungs. This immediate feedback allows the ventilation system to continuously monitor and adjust gas delivery parameters without the significant time delays associated with ETCO2 or SpO2 measurements, enabling timely corrections to prevent over-ventilation or under-ventilation.
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 provides accurate and reliable measurements of gas flow, resistant to moisture and debris, enabling effective ventilation therapy in emergency settings with improved user feedback for adjusting gas delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a flow restrictor disposed within the lumen of the flow conduit between the first region and the second region
Implementation Method 2
A sensitive region of the flow sensor system exhibits a greater level of hydrophobicity than a neighboring region adjacent to the sensitive region
Implementation Method 3
at least one pressure sensor configured to measure gas pressure of at least one of the first region and the second region of the flow conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A flow sensor system for ventilation treatment comprises a flow conduit configured to allow gas flow between a first region and a second region, the flow conduit defining a lumen for the gas flow; a flow restrictor disposed within the lumen of the flow conduit between the first region and the second region; a first absolute pressure sensor disposed adjacent to the first region of the flow conduit and configured to measure a pressure of the gas flow at the first region of the flow conduit; and a second absolute pressure sensor disposed adjacent to the second region of the flow conduit and configured to measure pressure of the gas flow at the second region of the flow conduit.