Ventilator Flow Meter Turbulator and Membrane Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow sensors for mechanical ventilators face challenges in accurately measuring gas flow and are prone to noise and vibration issues, which affect measurement accuracy and patient comfort.
Innovation Solution
A flow meter with a turbulator that creates a turbulent gas flow and a flexible membrane with specific design features to minimize vibrations and noise, ensuring accurate and comfortable gas flow measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flow sensor is used to measure gas flow accurately, then measurement precision is improved, but noise and vibration increase affecting patient comfort
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane is introduced as an intermediary element between the gas flow and the measurement system. The membrane responds to pressure changes caused by gas flow while isolating the sensing mechanism from direct exposure to turbulent flow, thereby reducing noise and vibration transmission to the measurement system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical flow sensing with a pressure-based measurement approach using a flexible membrane. This substitution allows indirect measurement of gas flow through pressure differential detection, which reduces the impact of mechanical vibrations and noise from the gas stream on the sensing system.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a turbulator is added to create turbulent gas flow for homogeneous velocity profile, then flow distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from laminar to turbulent by introducing a turbulator. This parameter change achieves a more homogeneous velocity profile across the flow cross-section, which improves measurement accuracy by ensuring uniform flow distribution over the membrane surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow meter is divided into distinct functional sections: an inlet portion with the turbulator for flow conditioning, a measurement portion with the flexible membrane for pressure sensing, and an outlet portion. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system manageability.
3Ease of operation
If airflow resistance is reduced for patient comfort, then ease of breathing is improved, but measurement accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flow meter is designed with different local characteristics: the inlet portion has a turbulator to create turbulence and homogeneous flow, the intermediate portion contains the flexible membrane for pressure sensing, and the outlet portion provides exhaust. This local differentiation allows the measurement section to maintain accuracy while the overall device maintains low resistance for patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane acts as an intermediary that converts gas flow into pressure differential signals for measurement. This indirect measurement approach allows the system to maintain low airflow resistance for patient comfort while still achieving accurate flow measurement through pressure differential detection across the membrane.
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 solution achieves high measurement accuracy and reduced noise levels, enhancing the comfort and effectiveness of mechanical ventilator treatments for breathing disorders by ensuring a homogeneous flow velocity profile and low airflow resistance.
Implementation Method 1
The turbulator is adapted to create a turbulent gas flow in the inlet portion downstream of the turbulator upon passage of a gas flow there through
Implementation Method 2
A flexible membrane with specific design features to minimize vibrations and noise
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A turbulator adapted to be mounted to or inserted in an inlet portion of a flow meter for a ventilator is disclosed. The turbulator is adapted to create a turbulent gas flow in the inlet portion downstream of the turbulator upon passage of a gas flow therethrough. A flow meter for a ventilator is provided. The flow meter may comprise such turbulator. The turbulator may be arranged in the inlet portion of the flow meter. A membrane for a ventilator flow meter is provided, as well as a flow meter comprising the membrane. A flow meter comprising a turbulator and a membrane is disclosed.