Ventilator Pneumatic Block Module Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilators are mechanically complex, requiring highly trained personnel for service and repair, with numerous tubes connecting mechanical and electrical components, which can lead to disconnection, leakage, and incorrect connections.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator design featuring a pneumatic block module that consolidates air passages, reducing mechanical complexity by housing most pneumatic connections within a single module, and an acoustic insert to reduce noise, along with a coupler for gas routing and airflow assemblies to simplify assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional ventilators use numerous individual tubes to connect mechanical and electrical components, then the ventilator can be assembled with standard components, but the mechanical complexity increases and requires highly trained personnel for service and repair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple pneumatic connections and air passages into a single integrated pneumatic block module. This module houses the blower, air passages, and connection points for mechanical and electrical components, replacing the conventional approach of using numerous separate tubes. The merging of these elements into one modular unit reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized module assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilator is divided into distinct modular components, with the pneumatic block module serving as a self-contained unit. This segmentation allows the complex pneumatic system to be isolated as a replaceable module, simplifying service and repair operations. The module can be serviced or replaced as a single unit rather than requiring disassembly of numerous individual tube connections throughout the entire ventilator system.
2Ease of operation
If conventional ventilators use numerous exposed tubes for pneumatic connections, then the components can be individually accessed, but disconnection and leakage risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pneumatic connections are merged into the integrated pneumatic block module, where air passages are contained within sealed channels. This eliminates numerous exposed tube connections that are prone to disconnection and leakage. The module provides sealed pneumatic pathways while maintaining access points for necessary connections through its standardized interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic block module acts as an intermediary component that manages all pneumatic connections centrally. Instead of having multiple separate tube connections throughout the ventilator, the module serves as a single intermediary point that routes and seals all air passages, reducing the risk of disconnection and leakage while maintaining ease of access through its modular design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional ventilators have numerous pneumatic connections throughout the housing, then the air passages can be individually routed, but incorrect connections may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic block module consolidates multiple air passage routes into a single integrated unit with pre-configured internal channels. This merging maintains the flexibility of complex air passage routing while eliminating the risk of incorrect connections, as the module's internal pathways are factory-configured and sealed. The standardized external interface ensures proper connection without requiring complex routing decisions during assembly or service.
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 design simplifies the assembly and maintenance of ventilators by minimizing exposed tubes and reducing mechanical complexity, while also reducing noise and improving airflow measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a diffuser disposed in the airflow chamber and configured to redirect flow from the flow generator
Implementation Method 2
an acoustic insert to reduce noise
Data Source
AI summary
A respiratory treatment apparatus configured to provide a flow of breathable gas to a patient, including a breathable air outlet, an outside air inlet, and an pneumatic block module, wherein the pneumatic block module includes: a volute assembly including an inlet air passage, a mount for a blower and an outlet air passage; the blower being mounted in the mount such that an impeller of the blower is in a flow passage connecting the inlet air passage and the outlet air passage; a casing enclosing the volute assembly, wherein air passages within the casing connect air ports on the volute assembly, wherein the inlet air passage of the volute assembly is in fluid communication with the outside air inlet and the outlet air passage of the volute assembly is in fluid communication with the air outlet.