Device for extracorporeal blood treatment

Abstract

Device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising: - an electroacoustic transducer (8) and - a control unit (1) which is designed to control the electroacoustic sound transducer (8) during an output mode to output an acoustic signal, - wherein the control unit (1) is designed to evaluate a diagnostic signal (5) for diagnosing the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment during a diagnostic operating mode, wherein the diagnostic signal (5) is dependent on a signal (11) generated by means of the electroacoustic sound transducer (8).

Description

[0001] The invention is based on the object of providing a device for extracorporeal blood treatment which enables reliable and cost-effective condition monitoring of the device.

[0002] The device for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises: a bidirectional electroacoustic sound transducer and a control unit, for example in the form of a microprocessor-based controller, which is designed to control the electroacoustic sound transducer to output an acoustic signal during an output mode of the device for extracorporeal blood treatment. The electroacoustic sound transducer can, for example, be a loudspeaker with a microphone function, which is designed to output an acoustic signal in the form of a tone, in the form of speech, etc. The control unit is designed to evaluate a diagnostic signal for diagnosing the device for extracorporeal blood treatment during a diagnostic mode of the device for extracorporeal blood treatment, wherein the diagnostic signal is dependent on a signal generated by means of the electroacoustic sound transducer.The signal generated by the electroacoustic transducer is an electrical signal, not an acoustic signal, meaning the electroacoustic transducer operates in microphone mode.

[0003] The device for extracorporeal blood treatment can, for example, be a dialysis machine.

[0004] In one embodiment, the device for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises: an electrical output amplifier which can be activated by means of the control unit during the output mode and deactivated during the diagnostic mode, which during its activation is designed to amplify an output signal generated by means of the control unit and to output the amplified output signal to the electroacoustic sound transducer, and which during its deactivation is designed not to output a signal to the electroacoustic sound transducer, ie to assume a high-impedance state at its output, and an input amplifier which is designed to amplify the signal generated by means of the electroacoustic sound transducer, wherein the amplified signal forms the diagnostic signal.

[0005] In one embodiment, the device for extracorporeal blood treatment further comprises: a pump, in particular a dialysate flow pump, wherein the pump is operated at lower speeds during a therapy mode of operation of the device for extracorporeal blood treatment than during a disinfection mode of operation of the device for extracorporeal blood treatment, wherein the control unit is designed to evaluate the diagnostic signal during the therapy mode and the diagnostic signal during the disinfection mode by means of comparison for wear monitoring of the pump.

[0006] In one embodiment, the device for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises: an electromagnetic valve, in particular an electromagnetic tube shut-off valve, wherein the control unit is designed to evaluate the diagnostic signal for monitoring the function of the electromagnetic valve.

[0007] In one embodiment, the control unit is configured to evaluate the diagnostic signal to determine a switching time period that elapses between actuation of the electromagnetic valve and reaching an end position of the valve. The control unit is configured to evaluate the determined switching time period for monitoring the function of the electromagnetic valve. If the determined switching time period is, for example, greater than a typical threshold value, the control unit can detect a malfunction of the electromechanical valve. Otherwise, the control unit can determine proper function of the electromechanical valve.

[0008] In one embodiment, the control unit is configured to evaluate the diagnostic signal during the diagnostic mode using a sound level analysis, a frequency analysis, a Fourier transform, and / or a wavelet transform to diagnose the extracorporeal blood treatment device. For example, a malfunction of components of the extracorporeal blood treatment device can be detected if a frequency spectrum of the diagnostic signal, particularly in predetermined frequency ranges, differs from a frequency spectrum of the diagnostic signal when the extracorporeal blood treatment device is known to be functioning correctly.

[0009] In one embodiment, the diagnosis of the extracorporeal blood treatment device comprises predictive maintenance of the extracorporeal blood treatment device, for example by issuing maintenance instructions, etc.

[0010] In one embodiment, the control unit is designed to evaluate the diagnostic signal for diagnosing the device for extracorporeal blood treatment by means of machine learning methods during the diagnostic operating mode.

[0011] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 schematically shows a block diagram of an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment according to the invention.

[0012] Fig. 1 shows a highly schematic block diagram of a device 100 according to the invention for extracorporeal blood treatment in the form of a dialysis machine.

[0013] The device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment conventionally comprises a dialyzer 12, a dialysate flow pump 9, a blood pump 13, and an electromagnetic tube shutoff valve 10. Reference is also made to the relevant specialist literature in this regard.

[0014] The device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment has a bidirectional electroacoustic sound transducer 8 and a control unit 1 coupled to the bidirectional electroacoustic sound transducer 8.

[0015] The control unit is designed to control the electroacoustic sound transducer 8 during an output mode to output an acoustic signal, for example to acoustically signal certain events.

[0016] The control unit is designed to evaluate a diagnostic signal 5 for diagnosing the device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment, for example by means of machine learning methods, during a diagnostic operating mode different from the output operating mode, wherein the diagnostic signal 5 is dependent on a signal 11 generated by means of the electroacoustic sound transducer 8.

[0017] The diagnosis may include a statement about a condition, such as whether various components of the extracorporeal blood treatment device 100 are functional or defective. The diagnosis may further include, for example, predictive maintenance of the extracorporeal blood treatment device 100, for example, by generating information about when a component of the extracorporeal blood treatment device 100 is expected to need to be replaced.

[0018] The device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment further comprises an output amplifier 6, which can be activated by the control unit 1 during the output mode and deactivated during the diagnostic mode. During its activation, the output amplifier 6 is configured to amplify an output signal 4 generated by the control unit 1 and output the amplified output signal to the electroacoustic sound transducer 8, and during its deactivation, the output amplifier 6 is configured not to output any signal to the electroacoustic sound transducer 8. The operating mode-dependent activation / deactivation of the output amplifier 6 takes place via a control line 2.

[0019] The device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment further comprises an input amplifier 7, which is designed to amplify the signal 11 generated by the electroacoustic transducer 8, wherein the amplified signal 5 forms the diagnostic signal 5. The input amplifier 7 is activated / deactivated depending on the operating mode via a control line 3.

[0020] The device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment further comprises a dialysate flow pump 9, which is operated at lower speeds during a therapy mode of operation of the device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment than during a disinfection mode of operation of the device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment. The control unit 1 is configured to evaluate the diagnostic signal 5 during the therapy mode and during the disinfection mode by comparing it to monitor wear of the pump 9.

[0021] The device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment further comprises an electromagnetic tube shut-off valve 10, wherein the control unit 1 is configured to evaluate the diagnostic signal 5 for functional monitoring of the electromagnetic tube shut-off valve 10. For this purpose, the control unit 1 is configured to evaluate the diagnostic signal 5 to determine a switching time period that elapses between actuation of the electromagnetic tube shut-off valve 10 and reaching an end position of the electromagnetic tube shut-off valve 10, wherein the control unit 1 is configured to evaluate the determined switching time period for functional monitoring of the electromagnetic tube shut-off valve 10.

[0022] The control unit 1 is designed to evaluate the diagnostic signal 5 during the diagnostic operating mode by means of a sound level analysis, a frequency analysis, a Fourier transformation and / or wavelet transformation for the diagnosis of the device 100 for extracorporeal blood treatment.

[0023] The invention is based on the realization that the functionality of a dialysis machine can be determined based on noise. Rotating motors, gears, pumps, or switching valves generate noises that are characteristic of whether components or the entire dialysis machine are functioning correctly or whether there is a defect or fault. This characteristic of noise generation and analysis is used for maintenance, particularly preventative maintenance, of dialysis machines.

[0024] In a dialysis machine according to the invention, operating noises generated by active components such as motors, pumps, valves, etc., during operation, for example, during preparation, therapy, and disinfection, can be recorded using a microphone. These operating noises are evaluated by the control unit. The control unit collects, stores, analyzes, and evaluates the acoustic properties of the recorded noises with regard to their deviations from the normal behavior of the machine.

[0025] The recorded tones, sounds, noises and vibrations are converted in the control unit into a mathematically analyzable form, for example by means of sound level analysis, frequency analysis, Fourier transformation or wavelet transformation.

[0026] The control unit can compare current analysis data with stored analysis data corresponding to proper function and, in the event of deviations that exceed a specified tolerance, can provide information for necessary maintenance work or recommended replacement measures for components that are the cause of the noise.

[0027] A learning algorithm can be implemented in the control unit that learns how a functioning dialysis machine sounds and then subsequently detects whether a sound deviates from the functioning case.

[0028] Over the product life cycle, the noise measurements according to the invention can also provide crucial information for the continuous analysis of long-term status and diagnostic data.

[0029] Noise differences between therapy mode and disinfection mode can be taken into special consideration during the evaluation. For example, the high temperatures during hot cleaning processes lead to sluggish pumps, e.g., due to the expansion of the materials in the pump bearings. The resulting differences between the sound patterns in disinfection mode and the sound patterns in therapy mode can be used to evaluate the degree of pump wear. Likewise, the significantly higher pump speeds in disinfection mode are a characteristic that can be evaluated specifically in relation to the lower speeds in therapy mode.

[0030] Furthermore, sound patterns of hose shut-off valves can be evaluated with regard to their wear. Hose shut-off valves typically have lifting or rotary electromagnets that are operatively connected to a hose clamp to clamp off an extracorporeal circuit to a patient. Hose shut-off valves close the hose clamp using a spring. When energized, the electromagnet opens the hose clamp. When opened and closed, the hose clamp generates a striking sound. The control unit can determine the time between actuation of the electromagnet and reaching the respective end position, indicated by the striking sound of the hose clamp, and based on this, evaluate whether the hose shut-off valve is functioning correctly or whether the hose shut-off valve requires maintenance due to wear or contamination.

Claims

[1] Device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising: - an electroacoustic transducer (8) and - a control unit (1) which is designed to control the electroacoustic sound transducer (8) during an output mode to output an acoustic signal, characterized by , that - the control unit (1) is designed to evaluate a diagnostic signal (5) for diagnosing the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment during a diagnostic operating mode, wherein the diagnostic signal (5) is dependent on a signal (11) generated by means of the electroacoustic sound transducer (8). [2] Device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment according to claim 1, characterized by that the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises: - an output amplifier (6) which can be activated by means of the control unit (1) during the output mode and deactivated during the diagnostic mode, which, during its activation, is designed to amplify an output signal (4) generated by the control unit (1) and to output the amplified output signal to the electroacoustic sound transducer (8), and which, during its deactivation, is designed not to output any signal to the electroacoustic sound transducer (8), and - an input amplifier (7) designed to amplify the signal (11) generated by the electroacoustic sound transducer (8), the amplified signal (5) forming the diagnostic signal (5). [3] Device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises: - a pump (9), in particular a dialysate flow pump, wherein the pump (9) is operated at lower speeds during a therapy mode of operation of the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment than during a disinfection mode of operation of the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment, - wherein the control unit (1) is designed to evaluate the diagnostic signal (5) during the therapy operating mode and during the disinfection operating mode for monitoring wear of the pump (9). [4] Device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises: - an electromagnetic valve (10), in particular an electromagnetic hose shut-off valve, - wherein the control unit (1) is designed to evaluate the diagnostic signal (5) for monitoring the function of the electromagnetic valve (10). [5] Device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment according to claim 4, characterized by , that - the control unit (1) is designed to evaluate the diagnostic signal (5) to determine a switching time period which elapses between actuation of the electromagnetic valve (10) and reaching an end position of the electromagnetic valve (10), wherein the control unit (1) is designed to evaluate the determined switching time period for functional monitoring of the electromagnetic valve (10). [6] Device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the control unit (1) is designed to evaluate the diagnostic signal (5) during the diagnostic operating mode by means of a sound level analysis, a frequency analysis, a Fourier transformation and / or wavelet transformation for diagnosing the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment. [7] Device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the diagnosis of the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises predictive maintenance of the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment. [8] Device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the control unit (1) is designed to evaluate the diagnostic signal (5) for diagnosing the device (100) for extracorporeal blood treatment by means of machine learning methods during the diagnostic operating mode.

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