Air-Powered Peritoneal Dialysis with Nesting Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) machines are complex and costly due to the use of rigid fluid cassettes and intricate pneumatic mechanisms, necessitating a simpler and more cost-effective solution.
Innovation Solution
An APD machine that utilizes air pressure from an air pump to drive fluid flow through nesting containers and a heater housing with an expandable bladder, eliminating the need for a cassette and complex pneumatic mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid fluid cassettes and intricate pneumatic mechanisms are used in APD machines, then fluid flow control is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex rigid cassette and intricate pneumatic mechanisms from the APD system. Instead, it uses simple flexible fluid bags that can be manually or automatically connected to the patient, eliminating the need for complex fluid management hardware while maintaining reliable fluid flow control through the dialysis circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cassette-based fluid management system with a simpler pneumatic system using an air pump to control fluid flow. The air pump inflates and deflates the fluid bags to drive dialysis fluid into and out of the patient's peritoneal cavity, substituting complex mechanical fluid handling with pneumatic actuation.
2Reliability
If rigid fluid cassettes and intricate pneumatic mechanisms are used in APD machines, then fluid flow control is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable flexible fluid bags that are inexpensive to manufacture and can be discarded after a single use. These bags replace expensive rigid cassettes and reduce the need for complex, costly pneumatic mechanisms, thereby significantly lowering the overall manufacturing cost of the APD system while maintaining adequate fluid flow control functionality.
3Productivity
If automated peritoneal dialysis is implemented, then treatment frequency increases and toxin removal improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the peritoneal dialysis system to perform automated drain-fill-dwell cycles with minimal user intervention. The air pump automatically controls the inflation and deflation of fluid bags to manage fluid flow through the patient's peritoneal cavity, allowing multiple treatment cycles per day without requiring complex manual operation or sophisticated control systems.
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
Reduces the complexity and cost of APD systems by using air pressure to manage fluid flow, simplifying the disposable set and eliminating the need for a cassette and complex logic circuits.
Implementation Method 1
utilizes air pressure from an air pump to drive fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
heater housing with an expandable bladder, eliminating the need for a cassette and complex pneumatic mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A peritoneal dialysis system comprises a cycler including an air pump; a heater housing including a heater and an expandable bladder in fluid communication with the air pump, wherein the heater housing is sized to receive a heater bag between a wall of the housing and the expandable bladder; a plurality of nesting containers configured for fluid communication with the air pump a disposable set operable with the cycler and including the heater bag and a plurality of fluid supply bags for placement within the plurality of nesting containers; and a control unit programmed to control the air pump and the heater.