Ventilator Connector Assembly With Intervention Port Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical ventilator systems require disassembly to perform interventional procedures, leading to interruptions in respiratory support and potential lung collapse, as they fail to maintain airway pressure during the introduction and removal of intervention devices like suction catheters.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly with a housing featuring multiple ports, including a ventilator port, airway port, and intervention port, which allows for the introduction of intervention devices without disrupting the closed ventilator circuit, using a valve structure to maintain bidirectional fluid communication and preserve airway pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ventilator manifold/connector is disassembled to insert intervention devices, then intervention procedures can be performed, but airway pressure is lost and respiratory support is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly is divided into separate functional ports: a ventilator port for maintaining respiratory support, an airway port for patient connection, and an intervention port for introducing medical devices. This segmentation allows independent access to each function without disrupting the others, enabling intervention procedures while maintaining continuous ventilator support through the sealed closed circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains the closed ventilator circuit, provides access for intervention devices, and preserves airway pressure. The multi-port design enables the single connector to handle ventilation, intervention, and pressure maintenance together, eliminating the need to disassemble the system for procedural access.
2Ease of operation
If the ventilator circuit is opened for intervention, then devices can be introduced, but patient oxygen levels drop and CO2 levels rise
Solution Approach 1:
The intervention port serves as an intermediary access point that allows introduction of medical devices without breaking the sealed connection between the ventilator and patient airway. This mediator port enables procedural access while the main ventilator circuit remains closed and sealed, preventing gas exchange disruption and maintaining patient oxygenation and CO2 elimination.
3Productivity
If multiple intervention procedures are performed daily, then patient care is improved, but cumulative disruption to respiratory support increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closed ventilator circuit with sealed ports maintains continuous respiratory support throughout multiple intervention procedures. Each intervention can be performed through the dedicated intervention port without breaking the ventilator-patient connection, ensuring uninterrupted delivery of breathable gases and eliminating cumulative time loss from repeated disconnections and reconnections.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly for a medical ventilator including a housing having a plurality of ports including an intervention port disposed and structured to introduce an intervention device into said housing and a patient airway. The plurality of ports also include a ventilator port and an airway port respectively disposed and structured to connect a ventilator and an artificial airway in fluid communication with one another. A valve structure is movably and removably disposed within a valve port and is disposable between open and closed positions. The closed position comprising the intervention port sealed from fluid communication with the housing and a closed ventilator circuit defining fluid communication between the ventilator port and the airway port. The open orientation comprising the intervention port disposed in communicating relation with the airway port concurrent to fluid communication between the ventilator port and the airway port.