Ventilator Circuit Oxygen Prefill Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilator circuits are incompatible with low pressure low flow oxygen generators, leading to inefficient oxygen delivery, where a significant portion of oxygen is wasted due to the mixing of exhaled gases, resulting in less than optimal oxygenation and rapid depletion of oxygen supplies.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator circuit design that incorporates an oxygen fill enable valve and a one-way check valve to prefill the inspiratory line with oxygen during exhalation, ensuring a higher concentration of oxygen reaches the patient during inspiration, while preventing exhaled gases from entering the inspiratory line, thereby optimizing oxygen usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional ventilator circuits are used with low pressure low flow oxygen generators, then the system can deliver oxygen to the patient, but a significant portion of oxygen is wasted due to mixing with exhaled gases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit is divided into separate inspiratory and expiratory pathways. The inspiratory line delivers oxygen-enriched gas to the patient while the expiratory line removes exhaled gases, preventing mixing and reducing oxygen waste in the circuit dead space.
Solution Approach 2:
Oxygen is pre-filled into the inspiratory line during the expiratory phase before the next inspiration begins. This preliminary oxygenation of the circuit ensures that the initial gas delivered to the patient is oxygen-rich, compensating for dead space losses.
2Quantity of substance
If high pressure oxygen cylinders are used, then sufficient oxygen volume is available, but the cylinder size imposes handling constraints on the caregiver and mobility constraints on the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the pressure parameter from high pressure (2200 PSI in cylinders) to low pressure operation. Low pressure low flow oxygen generators produce oxygen at approximately 50 PSI, eliminating the need for large heavy cylinders while providing sufficient oxygen volume for patient care.
3Ease of operation
If oxygen concentrators are used, then portability is improved, but the output flow rate is limited to less than 10 liters per minute
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator circuit is designed to work universally with multiple oxygen delivery modes including low pressure low flow oxygen generators, oxygen cylinders, and oxygen concentrators. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both portability and sufficient flow rates by adapting to different oxygen sources based on patient needs.
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
This design ensures a higher concentration of oxygen reaches the alveoli, reduces oxygen consumption, and extends the lifespan of oxygen generators by minimizing the demand on their output, making them smaller and requiring less frequent maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a one-way check valve to prefill the inspiratory line with oxygen during exhalation, ensuring a higher concentration of oxygen reaches the patient during inspiration, while preventing exhaled gases from entering the inspiratory line
Implementation Method 2
An oxygen fill enable valve communicates with the inspiratory line for controlling the flow of gas through the inspiratory line and towards the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilator circuit is provided for use with a ventilator and a low pressure low flow oxygen source to provide a hyper-oxygenated mixture of air and oxygen at the onset of inspiration. The ventilator circuit achieves this result by using its inspiratory limb to store oxygen between breaths. As a result, the oxygen content of dead space gas is increased before delivery to the distal alveoli of the patient. Accordingly, the ventilator circuit achieves an efficient use of available oxygen and requires less oxygen to a desired oxyhemoglobin percentage at the patient.