Ventilator Decision Support System for Balancing Conflicting Physiological Parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clinicians face challenges in setting appropriate mechanical ventilation levels due to the complexity of balancing conflicting physiological parameters, leading to increased stress and risk of errors, which can be fatal in intensive care units.
Innovation Solution
A decision support system that uses preference functions to translate physiological parameters and ventilator settings into unified scoring values, displayed in a graphical user interface, allowing clinicians to easily identify risks of over- and under-ventilation and make informed decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple physiological parameters and ventilator settings are monitored individually, then comprehensive patient data is collected, but clinician stress and error risk increase due to difficulty in maintaining overview
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual physiological parameters and ventilator settings into a single integrated graphical display showing preferred zones. Instead of presenting separate numerical values for each parameter (pH, PaCO2, PaO2, ventilation settings), the system merges them into unified visual representations where clinicians can see all parameters and their interrelationships at once, reducing cognitive load and error risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms one-dimensional numerical data into two-dimensional graphical representations with preferred zones. Each parameter is displayed with visual indicators showing acceptable ranges and relationships to other parameters, adding a spatial dimension that makes complex multi-parameter monitoring intuitive and reduces clinician stress.
2Reliability
If ventilator settings are adjusted to improve one physiological parameter, then that parameter improves, but other physiological parameters may deteriorate due to conflicting effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system that shows clinicians how changes in ventilator settings will affect multiple physiological parameters simultaneously. The graphical display with preferred zones provides immediate visual feedback on the trade-offs involved in adjusting settings, allowing clinicians to optimize one parameter while being aware of potential impacts on others and adjusting accordingly to maintain overall balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent calculates and displays preferred zones in advance based on physiological relationships, so clinicians can see the expected outcomes of setting adjustments before making changes. This preliminary visualization of effects allows clinicians to plan ventilator adjustments that optimize individual parameters while preventing negative impacts on other parameters.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If individual alarm settings are used for each physiological parameter, then specific abnormalities are detected, but overall system complexity and difficulty in maintaining overview increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate alarm functions into a single integrated graphical display system. Instead of having separate alarms for pH, PaCO2, PaO2, and ventilation settings that clutter the interface, the system combines them into unified visual indicators within preferred zones, reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the complex monitoring system into distinct preferred zones for different physiological parameters within the graphical display. Each parameter has its own visual representation and acceptable range indicators, allowing easy detection of abnormalities while maintaining overall system simplicity through organized segmentation.
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilator system is capable of displaying complex information patterns in a GUI, thereby allowing a clinician to get subtract complex information from multiple parameters inputs.