Embedded Files
Sponsored By: UCSD Health and Andrew Vahabzadeh-Hagh, MD
Background
Background
Drawbacks
Mounting the humidification mechanism directly to the wall greatly reduces the mobility of patient and in turn reducing their quality of life during this period. The requirement of having a high flow rate to drive humidification results in excessive use of both water and oxygen.
Solution
Utilizing an alternate approach to humidification, an ultrasonic nebulizer allows for increased portability and flow control. By not being constricted via wall tether, the water reservoir and nebulizer are able to be optimized to fit in a portable carrying unit mounted on the patients body.
Context
Upper Respiratory Tract (mainly the mouth and nose) warms and humidifies inhaled air. This humidification hydrates the mucous layer of the trachea and prevents crust from forming and in turn creating dangerous obstructions in the air way.
The current solution utilizes a jet nebulizer with compressed air to drive humidified air through a wall mounted tube into the entrance of the patient's trach collar.
Objectives
Portable device for patient to easily carry (~2kg)
Provide baseline humidification to patient’s trachea (~0.8ml/min of water for ~100% relative humidity)
Capability of adjusting humidification rate (~0-0.8 ml/min)
Water Reservoir size sufficient to not require refilling more than 1-2 times daily
Significant Noise Reduction (from 74dB)
Final Design
Final Design
Current Design:
The final design utilizes a small housing unit for water to flow to the piezo crystal. A pump drives the flow of humidified water through the tubing and a PCB driver to produce the atomization from the piezo crystal.
Accomplishments:
Adjustable Atomization Range of 0-0.85 ml/min
Maximum Relative Humidity after transporting 4 feet of tubing of 86%
Noise Reduction from 74dB to 49dB (>100x Reduction)
Elimination of Reliance on compressed oxygen
Weighs 1.08 kg, less than the desired 2kg
Performance Results
Customized Breadboard
Drives one ultrasonic piezo crystal with 113kHz resonant frequency
Produces a maximum atomization rate of 0.85ml/min at 113.6kHz and can be lowered to 0.0 ml/min under 105kHz
Panel mount potentiometer enables tuning the driving frequency to control the atomization rate
Senior Day Presentation
Senior Day Presentation
IMG_141259558.MOVIMG_4971.MOVPresentation Slides
Presentation Slides
Page updated
Report abuse