Ventilator Flow Interruption Valve for PEEP-Preserving Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for disconnecting patients from mechanical ventilators pose risks such as contamination, lung injury, gas escape, and loss of positive end expiratory pressure, and existing solutions like using forceps to close the breathing tube are dangerous.
Innovation Solution
A standalone flow interruption valve with a compression system that temporarily interrupts ventilator gas flow, maintaining lung pressure and allowing airflow resumption, comprising a first section with a patient port and a second section with a ventilator port, and an inner tube connected by actuatable tabs to control airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the patient is physically disconnected from the mechanical ventilator to perform procedures, then procedures such as transportation, filter replacement, and bronchoscopy can be implemented, but contaminants or germs can enter the patient, the patient's lungs can collapse and re-expand causing ventilator induced lung injury, patient exhaled gases can escape exposing health care workers to virus/bacteria or pharmaceuticals, and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The breathing circuit is divided into separate sections with the flow interruption valve as an independent component that can be activated without disconnecting the patient. This segmentation allows procedural access while maintaining the integrity of the overall ventilator system and patient connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow interruption valve acts as an intermediary device between the patient and the ventilator. It provides a controlled interruption point that allows procedures to be performed while maintaining the patient-ventilator connection, thus preventing contamination and lung injury associated with direct disconnection.
2Productivity
If forceps are used to compress the patient's breathing tube to close it off, then gas flow can be interrupted, but this method is dangerous and can cause tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The flow interruption function is extracted from the manual compression method and embodied in a dedicated valve device. This extracted function provides controlled gas flow interruption without the need for direct manual compression of the breathing tube, eliminating the risk of tissue damage while maintaining productivity.
3Reliability
If a standalone flow interruption valve with compression system is used, then gas flow can be safely interrupted and maintained, but the device complexity increases compared to simple disconnection methods
Solution Approach 1:
The compression system is designed to be self-actuating through tabs that can be manually engaged or disengaged. This self-service mechanism allows the valve to control gas flow without requiring complex external actuation systems, achieving reliable flow interruption while minimizing device complexity.
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 flow interruption valve effectively prevents contamination and maintains lung pressure during ventilator disconnection procedures, ensuring safe and controlled gas flow resumption.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second pressure members are configured to compress the inner tube and prevent airflow
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a flow interruption valve comprising a first section permanently connected to the second section. The first section has a patient portion to connect to a corresponding tube of a patient, whereas the second section has a ventilator port to connect to a corresponding tube of a ventilator. The first section is further comprised of a compression system, which can be compressed to pinch an inner tube and prevent airflow from the ventilator to the patient and vice-versa.