Bi-directional Valve Rerouting for Ventilator Blockages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ventilators often fail to ensure adequate oxygen supply during blockages in the gas delivery or return paths, leading to potential asphyxiation due to delayed clinician response times.
Innovation Solution
The ventilator system incorporates bi-directional emergency valves and dynamic blowers in both inhalation and exhalation pathways, allowing ambient air to be drawn or provided as needed to maintain breathing even during blockages, with sensors and controllers detecting and adapting to blockages to reroute airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a check valve is used in the exhalation system to prevent gas flow from the environment towards the patient's lungs, then the patient can exhale gas through the check valve and exhalation port, but the patient cannot draw air from the environment when the inhalation pathway is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The exhalation pathway valve is designed to allow bidirectional flow instead of unidirectional flow. When the inhalation pathway is blocked, the patient can draw ambient air through the exhalation port and exhalation valve in reverse direction, preventing asphyxiation while maintaining normal exhalation function
2Reliability
If a check valve is used in the gas delivery port to allow only gas flow towards the patient, then the patient receives inhalant, but the patient's lungs remain inflated and gas exchange is prevented when the exhalation pathway is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The inhalation pathway valve is designed to allow bidirectional flow. When the exhalation pathway is blocked, exhalant can escape through the inhalation pathway by reversing the flow direction through the valve, preventing lung over-inflation and oxygen deprivation while maintaining normal inhalation function
3Reliability
If a blockage occurs in the inhalation pathway, then the patient can exhale through the exhalation port, but little or no gas is delivered to the patient during inhalation
Solution Approach 1:
The exhalation port and exhalation valve serve as an intermediary pathway. When the primary inhalation pathway is blocked, ambient air can enter through the exhalation port and deliver gas to the patient through the bidirectional exhalation valve, maintaining gas delivery function
4Reliability
If a blockage occurs in the exhalation pathway, then the patient can inhale gas through the inhalation pathway, but the gas in the patient's lungs cannot leave the system
Solution Approach 1:
The inhalation pathway valve and ambient air inlet serve as an intermediary exhalation pathway. When the primary exhalation pathway is blocked, exhalant can escape through the bidirectional inhalation pathway valve and ambient air inlet, maintaining gas exchange function
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilator system, comprising: an inhalation pathway comprising an ambient air inlet, a bi-directional emergency valve, and a dynamic blower; and an exhalation pathway comprising a bi-directional exhalation valve and an exhalation port; wherein when a blockage occurs in the inhalation pathway, ambient air can be drawn from the exhalation port and through the bi-directional exhalation valve, and during exhalation exhalant exits the ventilator through the bi-directional exhalation valve and the exhalation port; wherein when a blockage occurs in the exhalation pathway, inhalant is delivered by the dynamic blower, and during exhalation the dynamic blower lowers its speed or stops and the exhalant exits the ventilator through the bi-directional emergency valve, the dynamic blower, and the ambient air inlet.