Ventilator Testing via Simulation Data Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for testing ventilator systems are limited in precision and require expensive external electronics or specific hardware changes, making them costly and burdensome, and often fail to provide comprehensive testing scenarios for various types of ventilators.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for testing ventilator function without connecting to a patient, using simulation commands sent to a ventilator system via a testing device, which records and compares responses to expected data, determining if the ventilator is functioning properly without the need for artificial lungs or additional external devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional testing methods using artificial lungs or external electronics are used, then comprehensive testing scenarios can be achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting accuracyVSAvoidhardware requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of patient respiratory data and sends it to the ventilator under test. This software-based simulation replaces the need for physical artificial lungs and complex external electronics, achieving comprehensive testing scenarios through data replication rather than physical duplication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical testing system (artificial lungs, flow meters, pressure sensors) with a software-based system that transmits simulated patient data electronically to the ventilator. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive external electronics while maintaining testing comprehensiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If software-based simulation testing is used, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but testing precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware requirementsVSAvoidtesting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the state of test data from physical measurements (flow, pressure) to digital simulation parameters. By systematically varying simulation parameters to represent different patient conditions, the system achieves comprehensive testing precision without requiring complex physical testing apparatus

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces software as an intermediary that translates simulated patient respiratory patterns into electrical signals compatible with the ventilator's expected input format. This intermediary layer ensures the simulated data is processed by the ventilator's control system with the same precision as actual patient data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8788236B2Systems and methods for medical device testing

Publication Date: 2014.07.22 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

The systems and methods for testing a medical device, as described herein, provide a novel approach for determining if the medical device is functioning properly without having to connect the medical device to a patient. For example, these systems and methods test the functionality of a medical device without utilizing an artificial lung or controlling pressure and flow monitored by the medical device and without making any hardware changes to the medical device.