Ventilator Switching Valve Bypass for Blocked Gas Branches
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilators are not sufficiently protected against blockages or malfunctions in the expiratory and inspiratory branches, which can lead to harmful elevated airway pressures and hinder respiratory gas exchange.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator design incorporating a breathing gas path with a check valve and a switching valve, featuring a bypass mechanism that allows respiratory gas to be redirected in case of blockage or malfunction, ensuring continuous gas exchange through an inspiratory or expiratory path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a check valve is used to prevent gas flow in one direction, then gas recirculation is prevented, but the system becomes vulnerable to blockages and malfunctions in the expiratory and inspiratory branches
Solution Approach 1:
The breathing gas path is divided into multiple independent branches (first and second expiratory branches, first and second inspiratory branches), each with its own check valve and switching valve. This segmentation allows the system to isolate and bypass blocked segments while maintaining functionality through alternative paths, directly addressing the reliability issue without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
Switching valves are introduced to dynamically redirect gas flow between different branches based on operational conditions. These valves enable the system to adaptively respond to blockages or malfunctions by switching active pathways, transforming a static valve arrangement into a dynamic, fault-tolerant system that maintains reliability without excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple check valves and switching valves are added to ensure continuous gas exchange, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into parallel redundant branches for both inspiration and expiration. Each branch contains complete functional elements (check valve, switching valve), allowing the system to maintain continuous gas exchange by switching to alternative branches when one fails, achieving high reliability through modular redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
Redundant branches and switching mechanisms are pre-configured in the system before any blockage or malfunction occurs. This prior cushioning ensures that when a failure happens, the system can immediately switch to backup pathways without interruption to gas exchange, maintaining reliability while managing complexity through proactive design.
3Reliability
If a bypass mechanism is implemented to redirect gas flow during blockages, then uninterrupted gas exchange is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Switching valves create dynamic bypass capabilities that automatically redirect gas flow when blockages are detected in any branch. The bypass mechanism is not a permanent complex structure but a controllable flow redirection system that activates only when needed, achieving uninterrupted gas exchange while minimizing inherent complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass capability is achieved through segmented independent branches rather than a single complex bypass line. Each branch can independently bypass blocked sections, distributing the bypass function across multiple simple pathways rather than one complicated system, thereby reducing overall mechanism 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
Ensures uninterrupted inspiration and expiration of respiratory gas by bypassing blocked or malfunctioning branches, preventing harmful pressure buildup and ensuring patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
a check valve and a switching valve are arranged in the breathing gas path... The check valve is configured to prevent gas flow in one direction, from the device outlet to the device inlet
Implementation Method 2
The switching valve is configured to redirect the flow of respiratory gas when a blockage or malfunction is detected in the breathing gas path
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a ventilator (10) with a device inlet (11a) and a device outlet (15a) and a breathing gas path (16a) between device inlet (11a) and device outlet (15a), wherein a breathing gas actuator (12a), a check valve (13a) and a switching valve (14a) are arranged in the breathing gas path (16a), wherein the check valve (13a) prevents a breathing gas flow in one direction from the device outlet (15a) to the device inlet (11a) and the switching valve (14a) allows a breathing gas flow in one direction from the device outlet (15a) to the device inlet (11a) at least temporarily.