Venturi-Based High Flow Oxygen Therapy System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high flow oxygen therapy (HFOT) systems require expensive equipment like ventilators and active heating humidifiers, limiting their use to specific areas of care due to cost and equipment availability.

Innovation Solution

The OFF-VENT system utilizes venturi systems and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) adapters, combined with heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) and an innovative oxygen delivery system, to provide HFOT without the need for expensive equipment, using the venturi effect to entrain room air and augment it with oxygen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional HFOT systems use ventilators and active heating humidifiers, then therapy effectiveness is improved, but equipment cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapy effectivenessVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential HFOT function from complex ventilator systems by using a simple venturi adapter that creates high flow through passive air entrainment, eliminating the need for active heating humidifiers and complex breathing circuits while maintaining airway opening effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive, complex ventilator equipment with inexpensive disposable components like venturi adapters, PEEP valves, and HMEs that can be easily discarded after use, dramatically reducing equipment cost and complexity while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If expensive equipment like ventilators is used, then HFOT performance is improved, but accessibility to various medical settings is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHFOT performanceVSAvoidsetting accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By replacing expensive ventilators with inexpensive disposable venturi adapters and PEEP valves, the system becomes affordable for use in outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and other settings that cannot support expensive equipment, dramatically improving accessibility while maintaining HFOT performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the core HFOT function from complex ventilator systems, creating a simplified version that can be used in diverse medical settings without requiring specialized equipment infrastructure, thereby enabling deployment in outpatient and emergency care environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If active heating humidifiers are used, then patient comfort is improved, but equipment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient comfortVSAvoidequipment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive active heating humidifiers with inexpensive disposable heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) that passively warm and humidify breath using phase change material, maintaining patient comfort while dramatically reducing equipment cost and eliminating the need for complex heating systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 OFF-VENT system effectively maintains open airways during inspiration and expiration, providing high flow oxygen therapy without the need for costly equipment, making it suitable for various medical conditions and settings.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Implementation Method 2

heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) and an innovative oxygen delivery system, to provide HFOT without the need for expensive equipment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS20250121151A1High flow oxygen therapy breathing systems

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 S C O P E MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Provided is the OFF-VENT breathing system. The system uses novel combinations of the venturi effect, PEEP adapters, HMEs, and the adaptation of a novel oxygen delivery system for the creation of high flow therapy to maintain open airways while maintaining access to the patient's airways for medical instruments, other accessories, or to assist breathing in general. The system is designed to create high flow oxygen therapy in a manner that does not require the use of ventilators, active heating humidifiers and other expensive equipment. Embodiments described include a novel integration of the venturi system into a nasal cannula apparatus, and the novel combination of the venturi effect and a PEEP adapter into breathing systems that might include hyperinflation and Mapleson circuits.