Non-sealing Ventilation Interface with Venturi Entrainment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ventilation therapies for respiratory and sleep disorders are invasive, obtrusive, and non-mobile, limiting patient mobility and activities of daily living, as they require sealing interfaces that obstruct the upper airway and are not easily portable.

Innovation Solution

A non-invasive open-airway ventilation system with a non-sealing nasal mask interface using a Venturi arrangement that allows ambient air breathing while delivering gas to create negative and positive pressure areas, reducing the work of breathing and treating sleep apnea without encumbering the patient.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealing face mask or nasal mask is used for non-invasive ventilation, then mechanical ventilatory support can be delivered to the patient, but the patient's upper airway is obstructed and the interface becomes obtrusive, limiting mobility and activities of daily living

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical ventilatory support deliveryVSAvoidpatient mobility and activities of daily living

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the sealing interface component from the ventilation system. Instead of using a face mask or nasal mask that seals against the patient's face, the invention delivers ventilatory support through a non-sealing interface that allows the patient's upper airway to remain open and unobstructed, thereby maintaining mobility and activities of daily living while still providing effective ventilation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a sealing nasal mask or face mask is used, then ventilation therapy can be provided, but the patient interface becomes invasive and obtrusive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilation therapy deliveryVSAvoidinvasiveness and obtrusiveness of patient interface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sealing function from the patient interface. The ventilation system delivers therapeutic gas through a non-sealing nasal cannula or similar minimal interface that does not contact or obstruct the patient's face, eliminating the invasiveness and obtrusiveness associated with traditional sealing masks while maintaining effective ventilation therapy delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Use of energy by moving object

If high flow oxygen therapy is used to reduce work of breathing, then oxygen flow rate is increased above 15 LPM, but the system consumes significant oxygen quantity, rendering it non-mobile and encumbering the patient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvework of breathing reductionVSAvoidoxygen consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a venturi device or similar flow amplification component - that uses a small amount of high-flow oxygen to entrain and mix with a larger volume of ambient air. This intermediary device amplifies the effective gas flow delivered to the patient while consuming minimal oxygen from the cylinder, thereby reducing work of breathing without the encumbrance of large oxygen tanks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 system provides effective respiratory support, allowing patients to breathe naturally and move freely while reducing the work of breathing and treating sleep apnea with a portable and minimally obtrusive design.

Implementation Method 1

The nozzle delivers gas into the nasal interface to create a negative pressure area in the gas flow path at the entrainment port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Implementation Method 2

the nasal interface and the nozzle create a positive pressure area between the entrainment port and the distal end gas flow path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow dynamics: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10265486B2Methods, systems and devices for non-invasive ventilation including a non-sealing ventilation interface with an entrainment port and/or pressure feature

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 BREATHE TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

Systems and methods may include a gas source, a gas delivery circuit, and a nasal interface allowing breathing ambient air through the nasal interface. A gas flow path through the nasal interface may have a distal gas flow path opening. A nozzle may be associated with a proximal end of the nasal interface a distance from the distal end gas flow path opening. At least a portion of an entrainment port may be between the nozzle and the distal end gas flow opening. The nozzle may deliver gas into the nasal interface to create a negative pressure area in the gas flow path at the entrainment port. The nasal interface and the nozzle may create a positive pressure area between the entrainment port and the distal end gas flow path opening. Gas from the gas delivery source and air entrained through the entrainment port may increase airway pressure or lung pressure or provide ventilatory support.