Ventilator Circuit Adapter with Self-Sealing Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adapters for delivering medicaments in ventilator circuits are not compatible with Respimat Soft Mist Inhalers and lack self-sealability, leading to incomplete mixing of medicaments with ventilator gas, resulting in non-uniform drug delivery and potential leaks or contamination.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator circuit adapter with a housing, interior and exterior passageways, and a spring-loaded valve that allows for the integration of various medicament delivery devices, ensuring thorough mixing of medicaments with gas and maintaining circuit sealing through a tethered cap, eliminating the need for re-sealing after each use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing cap is used to seal the ventilator circuit after each use, then the circuit can be sealed from leaks or contamination, but the device complexity increases and requires additional操作步骤
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter incorporates a self-sealing valve that automatically seals the circuit when the medicament delivery device is removed, eliminating the need for manual re-sealing operations. The valve mechanism responds automatically to the presence or absence of the delivery device, providing self-service sealing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from a separate sealing cap operation and integrated into the adapter's valve mechanism. This allows the sealing action to be performed automatically by the adapter itself rather than requiring a separate sealing cap to be manually installed after each use.
2Productivity
If the medicament is introduced into the ventilator gas flow without proper mixing, then the delivery process is simple, but the uniformity of drug delivery to the patient is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter incorporates a curved or spiral mixing chamber that guides the medicament-laden gas stream in a rotational path, allowing the medicament to mix thoroughly with the ventilator gas through centrifugal and turbulent mixing effects before reaching the patient interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing chamber acts as an intermediary zone between the medicament delivery port and the patient interface. Within this chamber, the medicament and ventilator gas interact and mix before the combined stream is delivered to the patient, ensuring uniform distribution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If various medicament delivery devices are integrated into the adapter, then the adaptability increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter employs a universal connection interface with a standardized receptacle and actuator mechanism that can accommodate multiple types of medicament delivery devices including Respimat inhalers, nebulizers, and other aerosol-generating devices. The single adapter design performs multiple functions by interfacing with different device types through a common connection protocol.
4Ease of operation
If the adapter is designed for permanent installation without disruption to patient ventilation, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is designed to nest within the existing ventilator circuit architecture, with the medicament delivery device inserting into the adapter which itself is integrated into the ventilator circuit. This nested arrangement allows permanent installation without disrupting the overall patient ventilation system.
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 adapter ensures uniform and efficient medicament delivery, minimizes leaks and contamination, and maintains circuit integrity, allowing for permanent installation without disrupting patient ventilation, while accommodating different medicament delivery devices.
Implementation Method 1
A valve is moveable between a closed position, wherein the valve closes the opening of the medicament delivery port, and an open position wherein the medicament delivery port is open. An actuator is attached to an end of the valve stem. A spring is disposed around the valve stem and positioned within the interior passageway and is compressed between the valve stem and a valve seat defined by the medicament delivery port.
Implementation Method 2
the medicament may be fully entrained or mixed, thereby reducing the amount of uniformity in the drug delivery to the patient
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An adapter includes a housing having an inlet port defining a flow path and an outlet port. An interior wall has an inner surface defining an interior passageway communicating with the outlet port and an exterior surface defining an exterior passageway communicating with the inlet port. The interior wall defines a mouth communicating between the interior and the exterior passageways. The interior wall is positioned transverse to the flow path of the inlet port. A medicament delivery port opens into the mouth. A valve is moveable between a closed position, wherein the valve closes the medicament delivery port, and an open position, wherein the medicament delivery port is open. A ventilator circuit and method of delivering a medicament are also provided.