Respiratory Ventilator Diaphragm Actuation for Low-Cost Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and limited availability of traditional ventilators, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, have resulted in a shortage of respiratory ventilators for patients with pneumonia and other respiratory issues, as they require specialized facilities and equipment for production, making it difficult to quickly manufacture them in large quantities.

Innovation Solution

A low-cost respiratory ventilator device that can be easily manufactured in a metal workshop without specialized machinery, featuring an inhaled air assembly, an exhaled air assembly, and a control system to replicate the human breathing mechanism, allowing for both inhalation and exhalation support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional ventilators are manufactured in specialized facilities, then reliability and performance are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilator reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilator is divided into separate functional modules: an inhalation module with diaphragm and valve for delivering oxygenated air, and an exhalation module with diaphragm and valve for removing exhaled air. This segmentation allows each module to be manufactured independently using simple sheet metal fabrication techniques, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining system reliability through dedicated functional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs simple, inexpensive materials such as sheet metal for constructing the inhalation and exhalation chambers, and uses readily available components like diaphragms and valves. This approach enables rapid production of functional ventilators in standard metal workshops without requiring specialized manufacturing facilities, significantly reducing both cost and manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Manufacturing precision

If ventilators are produced in specialized facilities, then manufacturing precision is improved, but production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilator manufacturing precisionVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilator design allows for self-assembly using basic metalworking tools and techniques that are universally available in standard workshops. The sheet metal construction methods and simple component interfaces enable local fabrication without requiring specialized manufacturing precision, dramatically reducing production time and enabling rapid scaling during emergencies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If complex specialized equipment is used for ventilator production, then device performance is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilator performanceVSAvoidventilator ease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical systems with simpler alternatives: using diaphragms actuated by pressure differentials instead of complex pneumatic systems, and employing gravity-assisted exhalation flow instead of active pumping mechanisms. This substitution maintains adequate ventilator performance while dramatically improving ease of manufacture using basic metalworking capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The device provides affordable and reliable respiratory support for patients by simplifying production and replicating natural breathing mechanisms, reducing the risk of excessive pressure or vacuum, and allowing for easy adjustment of respiratory parameters, thus addressing the shortage of ventilators and improving patient care.

Implementation Method 1

The control system operates the inhaled air assembly to generate a positive air pressure to channel the volume of inhalation air to the patient's lungs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPositive pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

The control system operates the exhaled air assembly to generate a negative air pressure to remove the air from the patent's lungs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20230347086A1Respiratory ventilatory device and method of operating same

Publication Date: 2023.11.02 SOCO INTERNATIONAL LLC

AI summary

A respiratory ventilator device is described herein. The respiratory ventilator device includes an inhaled air assembly including an injector diaphragm housing including a flexible injector diaphragm, an extractor diaphragm housing including a flexible extractor diaphragm, a pneumatic compressed air assembly, and a control system operatively coupled to the pneumatic compressed air assembly. The control system including a processor programmed to execute an algorithm for operating the respiratory ventilator device including the steps of operating the pneumatic compressed air assembly in a first phase including the injector diaphragm and the extractor diaphragm in a center position, and operating the pneumatic compressed air assembly in a second phase including delivering compressed air into the injector diaphragm housing to move the flexible injector diaphragm to channel inhalation air from the injector diaphragm housing to a patient respiratory circuit.