Arc-Shaped Degassing Chamber for MRI Gas Bubble Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for separating gas bubbles from liquid streams in medical applications, such as contrast agents or saline solutions, fail to reliably remove gas bubbles in strong magnetic fields and are costly to manufacture, especially when designed as disposable items.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring an annular duct connecting the inlet and outlet channels in a vertical, arc-shaped configuration, where the liquid flow is deflected in an arc, causing large-volume gas bubbles to rise and be collected, while small-volume bubbles are pushed inward to agglomerate and rise, utilizing the flow velocity gradient and centrifugal force for efficient separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional separation devices are used in strong magnetic fields, then gas bubble separation is attempted, but the devices are costly to manufacture and cannot be reliably used as disposable items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a degassing device that can be manufactured as a low-cost disposable item using non-metallic materials, eliminating the need for expensive metallic components that would be problematic in MRI environments. The device is intended for single-use to ensure reliability without the burden of sterilization and reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical separation mechanisms with a simple gravity-based separation chamber design. The degassing chamber allows gas bubbles to rise and separate from the liquid stream through buoyancy forces, eliminating the need for complex mechanical pumps, valves, or magnetic components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If metallic materials are used in MRI environment, then device functionality is maintained, but safety risks arise due to strong magnetic fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a non-magnetic environment by constructing the entire degassing device from non-metallic materials such as plastic or polymer. This eliminates magnetic field interference and safety risks associated with metallic components in MRI environments, allowing the device to function safely during medical imaging examinations.
3Reliability
If complex separation mechanisms are implemented, then separation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gas separation function from complex mechanical systems and implements it through a simple dedicated degassing chamber. The chamber is designed with a T-junction where the liquid stream enters and gas bubbles can rise and exit separately, creating a simple yet effective separation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the degassing chamber to allow the liquid stream to flow horizontally at a constant level while gas bubbles rise vertically to exit through a separate opening. This creates equipotential flow conditions that facilitate efficient gas-liquid separation without requiring complex mechanical interventions.
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
This solution effectively separates gas bubbles of varying sizes from the liquid flow, even at high flow rates, ensuring reliable removal without moving parts and using only the energy from the liquid flow speed, suitable for medical applications like MRI and CT imaging.
Implementation Method 1
large-volume gas bubbles, because of their lower density compared to the liquid flow, rise rapidly vertically upwards to the outer diameter of the annular channel
Implementation Method 2
the prevailing velocity gradient of the liquid flow causes the remaining small-volume gas bubbles to be deflected radially inwards within the arc-shaped annular channel by the prevailing combination of centrifugal force and density difference
Implementation Method 3
As soon as the small-volume gas bubbles come into contact with the surface forming the inner diameter of the arc-shaped annular channel, they collect on this surface and gradually agglomerate into large-volume gas bubbles
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for separating gas bubbles from a liquid stream, comprising a degassing chamber (1) with an inlet channel (10) and an outlet channel (12) for the passage of the liquid stream, and a collection chamber (112) communicating with the degassing chamber (1) and having a gas outlet opening (113) for the gas bubbles, wherein the degassing chamber (1) comprises an annular channel (11) connecting the inlet channel (10) to the outlet channel (12) in a flow direction and extending in an arc in a vertical plane, and the collection chamber is arranged in the vertically upper region of the annular channel (11). A corresponding method for removing gas bubbles from a liquid stream is also described.