Ventilator Pneumatic Switching System with UV-IR Pathogen Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilators do not adequately disinfect breathing air due to insufficient pathogen exposure to UV radiation, which can lead to infection risks and damage to components, especially in high-traffic areas like hospitals, and pose health hazards to patients and operators.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator design incorporating a pneumatic circuit system with multiple particle filters and strategically aligned light sources emitting a combination of UV and IR radiation to effectively neutralize pathogens, ensuring pathogens are slowed down and exposed to disinfecting light, while avoiding harmful radiation effects on materials and patients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV radiation is used to disinfect breathing air, then pathogen removal is improved, but components and materials are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the radiation from conventional UV-C (200-280 nm) to a specific UV range (280-400 nm) with peak at 365 nm. This parameter change maintains disinfection effectiveness while significantly reducing damage to plastic components and materials in the breathing circuit system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a light source that replicates the beneficial disinfection effects of UV radiation while avoiding its harmful effects. By copying the wavelength characteristics that are effective against pathogens (280-400 nm range) while excluding the damaging shorter wavelengths, the system achieves disinfection without component degradation.
2Reliability
If UV radiation is applied to kill pathogens in delivered air, then disinfection is improved, but toxic radicals are formed from inhalation anesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the radiation wavelength parameter to 280-400 nm (peak 365 nm), which is effective for pathogen disinfection but insufficient energy to break chemical bonds in inhalation anesthetics. This prevents the formation of toxic radicals while maintaining disinfection effectiveness.
3Reliability
If UV-B radiation is used for disinfection, then pathogen killing is improved, but singlet oxygen and ozone are formed from breathing air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts the radiation wavelength from UV-B (280-315 nm) to a longer wavelength range (280-400 nm with peak at 365 nm). This change reduces the energy level below what is required to generate singlet oxygen and ozone from molecular oxygen, while still maintaining effective disinfection of pathogens.
4Device complexity
If simple particle filters are used, then device complexity is reduced, but pathogen removal is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines particle filtration with UV irradiation in a single integrated system. The particle filter provides mechanical filtration while the UV light source provides disinfection, creating a dual-function device that achieves comprehensive pathogen removal without significantly increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilator system is designed to perform multiple functions: oxygen delivery, particle filtration, and UV disinfection. By integrating these functions into a single platform, the patent achieves enhanced pathogen removal capability without proportionally increasing overall 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 ventilator effectively disinfects breathing air, reducing infection risks and preventing damage to components, while ensuring safety for both patients and operators by using a combination of UV and IR radiation that is non-damaging to materials and humans.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light source (41, 42, 43) is aligned with one another in a direction of light emission (r) towards the particle filter (31, 32, 33)... emitting a combination of UV and IR radiation to effectively neutralize pathogens
Implementation Method 2
emitting a combination of UV and IR radiation to effectively neutralize pathogens
Implementation Method 3
several particle filters (31, 32, 33) with decreasing pore size in the flow direction (d) are arranged within the pneumatic circuit system (2)... pathogens are slowed down and exposed to disinfecting light
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention comprises a ventilator (1) with a pneumatic switching system (2) for conveying ventilation gas in a flow direction (d) to a patient, wherein at least one such particle filter (31, 32, 33) is pneumatically switched within the pneumatic switching system (2), onto which at least one light source (41, 42, 43) is directed in a light emission direction (r). The light emitted onto the particle filter (31, 32, 33) is selected from a first wavelength range of 385 nm to 780 nm and from a second wavelength range of more than 780 nm to 2000 nm.