Ventilator Inflation Bag Volume Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical ventilators are complex and costly, limiting their production and availability, especially during pandemic situations, and there is a need for portable and user-friendly ventilators that can deliver precise air-oxygen mixtures with adjustable tidal volumes and inspiration-expiration ratios.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator design incorporating an air vessel, inflation bag, connecting member, bag holder, and controller member that allows for varying tidal volume and inspiration-expiration ratios by changing the size of the inflation bag through contraction and expansion, using a regulator or sliding mechanism, and can be operated without electricity, making it portable and cost-effective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional medical ventilators with complex components (valves, sensors, oxygen concentrators, electronic controllers) are used to deliver precise air-oxygen mixtures, then delivery precision and patient care quality are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex electronic control system, sensors, and oxygen concentrator components from the ventilator design. It retains only the essential mechanical inflation bag mechanism, thereby eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining the core function of delivering air to patients during emergencies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive mechanical inflation bag that can be easily manufactured and disposed of after use. This replaces expensive, complex electronic ventilators with a low-cost mechanical alternative that is sufficient for emergency situations, aligning with the principle of using affordable single-use or reusable simple devices
2Productivity
If conventional ventilators with sophisticated components are produced at scale, then availability during pandemics is improved, but manufacturing complexity and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent strips away complex electronic components, valves, and control systems from the ventilator design, leaving only the simple mechanical inflation bag structure. This extraction of unnecessary components enables rapid manufacturing and scaling production during pandemic emergencies without the bottlenecks of complex assembly lines
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the ventilator into discrete, easily manufacturable components including the inflation bag, valve assembly, and simple frame structure. This segmentation allows for parallel production, simplifies manufacturing processes, and enables quick assembly, thereby increasing production rate and availability during crises
3Ease of operation
If electronic control systems with motors are used to operate inflation bags, then control precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic control systems with motors and sensors with a purely mechanical operation system. The inflation bag is operated through direct mechanical compression by the user or simple mechanical linkages, eliminating the need for electronic controllers, motors, and complex control circuits while maintaining operational effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical inflation bag system is designed to be self-operating through direct user compression without requiring electronic control. The bag automatically inflates and deflates through mechanical action, and the valve system automatically regulates air flow, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating complex electronic control requirements
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 ventilator is simple to use, cost-effective, and can supply fresh air to multiple patients simultaneously, requiring minimal skilled operation and being portable, thus addressing the limitations of conventional ventilators during emergencies.
Implementation Method 1
The at-least one controller member is operably configured to operate the at-least one inflation bag thereby changing size of the inflation bag to vary a tidal volume and an inspiration-expiration ratio of the ventilator
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilator includes at-least one air vessel, at-least one inflation bag, at-least one connecting member, a bag holder and at-least one controller member. The at-least one connecting member connects to the at-least one air vessel. The bag holder may hold the inflation bag. The at-least one controller member operates the at-least one inflation bag thereby changing size of the inflation bag to vary a tidal volume and an inspiration-expiration ratio of the ventilator. In another aspect, at-least one controller member is mounted on the bag holder. Further, the at-least one controller member slides within the bag holder to change the shape of the inflation bag to vary a tidal volume and an inspiration-expiration ratio of the ventilator.