Air-Powered Peritoneal Dialysis with Nesting Containers and No Cassette
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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, which increase the expense of disposable sets.
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 simplifying the pneumatic mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
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 pneumatic mechanisms and rigid cassette from the APD system, extracting only the essential function of fluid delivery. Instead of using mechanical pneumatic systems, the invention uses simple gravity-fed fluid delivery through flexible bags, eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable flexible fluid bags instead of expensive, complex rigid cassettes. These simple, single-use bags are filled with dialysis fluid and connected directly to the patient, eliminating the need for costly reusable components while ensuring hygiene and operational simplicity.
2Productivity
If complex pneumatic mechanisms are used, then fluid pumping is achieved, but disposable set cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple hydraulic principles where fluid pressure and gravity naturally drive the dialysis fluid through the system. Instead of complex pneumatic pumps, the system relies on pressure differentials created by fluid weight and flow resistance, dramatically simplifying the disposable set while maintaining effective fluid pumping capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dialysis fluid system is designed to be self-regulating, using its own weight and pressure to flow through the patient and return. The flexible bags automatically deliver fluid at appropriate rates without external pumping mechanisms, reducing disposable set complexity and cost while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
3Reliability
If rigid cassettes are used, then fluid containment is achieved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid cassette structures with flexible fluid bags made of thin, compliant materials. These flexible containers provide adequate fluid containment while adapting to the system's pressure changes and movement, reducing complexity and cost without compromising containment reliability during the dialysis process.
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 cost and complexity of APD systems by eliminating the need for a cassette and complex pneumatic mechanisms, thereby lowering the cost of disposable sets and simplifying the logic circuitry.
Implementation Method 1
utilizes air pressure from an air pump to drive fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
an expandable bladder in pneumatic communication with the air pump... the air pump to expand the expandable bladder to push heated fresh dialysis fluid from the heater housing
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.