Ventilator Flow Connection with Homogenization for Accurate Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection devices for mechanical ventilation and monitoring of patient breathing face challenges in reliably measuring volume flow due to varying use conditions and environmental effects, which often distort measurement results.
Innovation Solution
A connection device with a fluid-guiding unit and a volume flow sensor, incorporating a homogenization unit with two sieves arranged in series to ensure a homogeneous fluid flow, and a mechanical coding to maintain consistent positioning, thereby enhancing measurement reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a volume flow sensor is used to measure the volume flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit, then the volume flow can be monitored to control and regulate the ventilator, but use conditions and environmental effects make reliable measurement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The homogenization unit is installed upstream of the volume flow sensor to pre-condition the fluid flow before measurement. This preliminary action ensures that the flow is homogeneous and stable when it reaches the sensor, eliminating the negative effects of varying use conditions and environmental factors on measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The homogenization unit acts as an intermediary element between the fluid-guiding unit and the volume flow sensor. It mediates the fluid flow by reducing turbulence and creating uniform flow conditions, thereby protecting the sensor from direct exposure to problematic flow variations caused by environmental effects.
2Measurement precision
If the homogenization unit is inserted into the interior of the fluid-guiding unit, then fluid flow homogeneity is improved for better measurement, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The homogenization unit is nested within the fluid-guiding unit, specifically inserted into its interior. This nesting approach allows the homogenization function to be integrated into the existing device structure without requiring separate external components, thereby minimizing the increase in overall device complexity while achieving improved flow homogeneity.
Solution Approach 2:
The homogenization unit combines multiple functional elements (sieves, flow straighteners) into a single integrated component that is inserted into the fluid-guiding unit. This merging of functions into one compact unit reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device structure while still achieving the desired flow homogeneity for accurate measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
A connection device, for mechanical ventilation and monitoring of spontaneous breathing of a patient (P), includes a fluid-guiding unit (9, 11, 15) and establishes a fluid connection between a medical arrangement (100) and a patient-side coupling unit (19). A volume flow sensor (90) measures an indicator of volume flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit. A volume flow sensor component (2) engages with an interior of the fluid-guiding unit. A homogenization unit (10) is nonrotatably inserted into the interior between the patient-side coupling unit and the component and includes two sieves and a connection element, which connects the sieves together. The homogenization unit homogenizes the flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit. An inner profile of the fluid-guiding unit and an outer profile of the homogenization unit together form a mechanical coding, which determines a defined rotation position of the homogenization unit in relation to the fluid-guiding unit.