Ventilator with Adaptive Intermittent Gas Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-invasive respiratory support systems for patients with chronic respiratory failure are hindered by nuisance alarms triggered by the intermittent nature of ventilation, which can lead to patient disconnection and reduced effectiveness in maintaining ventilation parameters.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation system comprising a pressure generator, interface appliance, sensors, and processors that determine readiness for pressurized gas delivery and adjust parameters based on a therapy regimen, allowing for intermittent and controlled delivery of breathable gas to the airway, minimizing alarms and ensuring continuous respiratory support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a typical ventilator is used to provide intermittent respiratory support, then patients can access ventilation as needed and initiate breaths spontaneously, but nuisance alarms are triggered that lead to patient disconnection and reduced ventilation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator dynamically switches between standby mode and active ventilation mode based on real-time detection of patient breathing effort. The system transitions from a static alarm-state operation to a dynamic adaptive operation where ventilation is delivered only when the patient initiates a breath, eliminating nuisance alarms while maintaining reliable support.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect patient breathing effort and provides feedback to the control module. This feedback mechanism allows the ventilator to distinguish between patient-initiated breaths and absence of breathing, enabling intelligent decision-making about when to deliver ventilation and when to remain in standby mode without triggering alarms.
2Reliability
If the ventilator remains in active mode to ensure continuous ventilation, then ventilation parameters are maintained, but patients cannot freely initiate breaths and experience reduced quality of life
Solution Approach 1:
The patient self-regulates their own ventilation needs by initiating breaths when required. The ventilator system provides the capability for the patient to control their own respiratory support timing and intensity, allowing them to take full advantage of spontaneous breathing while the system ensures ventilation parameters are maintained when needed.
3Reliability
If the ventilator triggers alarms for intermittent ventilation, then it alerts operators to potential issues, but it causes patient distress and disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm system is segmented into different states: standby mode with no alarms, and active ventilation mode with appropriate alarms. This segmentation allows the system to remain silent during normal intermittent operation when the patient is not connected, while still providing alarm functionality when ventilation is actively delivered and issues arise.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for providing respiratory support to a subject by intermittently delivering pressurized flow of breathable gas to a subject are described. A system may include, for example, a pressure generator, an interface appliance configured to communicate a flow of gas generated by the pressure generator to an airway of the subject, one or more sensors, and one or more processors configured to execute one or more computer program modules. The computer program modules may be configured, for example, to determine whether the subject is ready to receive the pressurized flow of breathable gas, to initiate and/or terminate delivery of the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject, and to control the pressure generator and the interface appliance so as to appropriately deliver the pressurized flow of breathable gas based on a prescribed therapy regimen designed to ventilate the subject.