Ventilator PEEP Adjustment for Maintaining EELV During External Maneuvers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilator systems fail to maintain end expiratory lung volume (EELV) during external maneuvers, leading to lung collapse and increased recovery needs, requiring manual adjustments and potential delays.

Innovation Solution

A method and ventilator arrangement that pauses ventilation before an external maneuver, determines airway pressure change (ΔPaw), and adjusts the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) accordingly to maintain EELV, allowing automatic adaptation without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual adjustment of PEEP settings is performed during external maneuvers, then EELV can be maintained, but response time is delayed and operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEELV maintenanceVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilator performs a ventilation pause and determines the possible change in airway pressure (ΔPaw) before the external maneuver begins. This preliminary measurement allows the system to calculate the required PEEP adjustment in advance, so that when the maneuver starts, the updated PEEP level is already set and immediately effective, eliminating response delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilator arrangement automatically performs the ventilation pause, measures ΔPaw, calculates the updated PEEP level, and applies the adjustment without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously adapting to the external maneuver conditions, eliminating the need for operator intervention and reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual adjustment of PEEP settings is performed during external maneuvers, then EELV can be maintained, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEELV maintenanceVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilator arrangement autonomously performs all steps: initiating ventilation pause, measuring ΔPaw, calculating updated PEEP level (set PEEP level + ΔPaw), and applying the adjustment. This self-service capability eliminates the need for operators to understand complex calculations or manually adjust settings, significantly reducing operational complexity while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If PEEP level is adjusted during external maneuvers, then EELV is maintained, but ventilation interruption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEELV maintenanceVSAvoidventilation pause duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation pause and ΔPaw measurement are performed before the external maneuver begins. This timing ensures that the pause occurs when it least interferes with the overall ventilation strategy, and the PEEP adjustment is ready before the maneuver starts, minimizing the duration of actual ventilation interruption during the critical maneuver period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12370334B2Ventilator arrangement and method for controlling a ventilator arrangement

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 MAQUET CRITICAL CARE

AI summary

A method for controlling a ventilator arrangement might be suitable for maintaining or achieving a desired end expiratory lung volume, EELV, of a subject when an external manoeuvre is performed on the subject ventilated by the ventilator arrangement. The ventilator arrangement applies a set positive end-expiratory pressure, PEEP, level for performing the ventilation.