Ventilator PEEP Control for Consistent Tidal Volume

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilators require continuous clinician attention for optimal patient ventilation, making it difficult to maintain consistent CO2 elimination and are prone to adverse reactions due to hyperventilation, as they lack automated adjustment of peak inspiratory pressure and PEEP to achieve set tidal volumes.

Innovation Solution

A ventilator system that operates in a mode with fixed parameters like tidal volume and peak airway pressure, and a variable parameter like PEEP, allowing for automatic adjustment of PEEP based on measured tidal volume to maintain consistent gas delivery, reducing clinician workload and improving safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual adjustment of peak inspiratory pressure and PEEP is used to maintain set tidal volume, then consistent CO2 elimination can be achieved, but continuous clinician attention and interaction are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistent CO2 eliminationVSAvoidcontinuous clinician attention

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilator system automatically monitors tidal volume and adjusts PEEP levels without requiring continuous manual intervention from clinicians. The system self-regulates by comparing measured tidal volume against target values and autonomously modifying PEEP to maintain consistent CO2 elimination, thereby achieving reliable ventilation while freeing clinician attention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where tidal volume is continuously measured and compared against target values. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically adjusts PEEP levels to maintain consistent CO2 elimination. This feedback-driven approach ensures reliable ventilation outcomes without requiring continuous manual monitoring and adjustment by clinicians.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual titration of PEEP is performed to maintain set tidal volume, then consistent CO2 elimination can be achieved, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistent CO2 eliminationVSAvoidmanual titration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilator performs automatic PEEP titration by continuously monitoring tidal volume and autonomously adjusting PEEP levels to maintain the set target. This eliminates the need for manual titration processes, saving significant clinician time while maintaining consistent CO2 elimination and reliable ventilation outcomes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment of PEEP with an automated electronic control mechanism. The controller uses sensors to measure tidal volume and automatically modifies PEEP settings, substituting the manual mechanical titration process with an automated electronic system that operates continuously without clinician intervention, thereby eliminating time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If large volumes of respiratory gas are delivered during lung recruitment to reach elevated peak pressures, then lung recruitment can be achieved, but hyperventilation and hypocapnea occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelung recruitmentVSAvoidhypocapnea and adverse hemodynamic reactions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control by continuously measuring tidal volume during lung recruitment maneuvers and comparing it against target values. When tidal volume deviates from the target, the controller automatically adjusts PEEP levels to correct the deviation, thereby preventing hyperventilation and hypocapnea while still achieving the necessary elevated peak pressures for effective lung recruitment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes PEEP parameters during lung recruitment maneuvers based on real-time tidal volume measurements. By adjusting PEEP levels in response to measured tidal volume, the system maintains tidal volume within target ranges even during high-pressure recruitment, thereby preventing harmful hypocapnea and adverse hemodynamic reactions while achieving effective lung recruitment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2246087B1System for ventilating a patient

Publication Date: 2016.04.20 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

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AI summary

System and methods for ventilating a patient are provided. In one embodiment, the method (200) comprises steps of placing a ventilator in a mode capable of delivering respiratory gas based on at least one fixed parameter and at least one variable parameter (205), the fixed parameters being tidal volume and peak airway pressure and the variable parameter being PEEP, identifying a first level for the PEEP (210), configuring the ventilator to deliver the respiratory gas at the peak airway pressure and the PEEP to achieve the tidal volume (215), monitoring respiratory gas flow over time to measure tidal volume (220), setting a second level for the PEEP based on the measured tidal volume (225), automatically adjusting the PEEP to the second level relative to the peak airway pressure (230) and repeating the steps of configuring, monitoring, setting and automatically adjusting to achieve the ventilation (235).