Aspiration System With Auxiliary Flushing Line
Solution Overview
Problem
Current drainage pump systems for aspirating fluids from the body lack an efficient method for flushing and maintaining the drainage line, which can lead to obstructions and contamination, and do not effectively measure pressure in body cavities without introducing external air or additional pumps.
Innovation Solution
A system with a drainage line, fluid collection container, and a pump that uses an auxiliary line to form a closed or approximately closed circuit for flushing and pressure measurement, employing a two-way valve to switch between aspiration and flushing modes, and incorporating a pressure sensor for obstruction detection and pressure measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate flushing pump is used to clean the drainage line, then the drainage line can be effectively flushed, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single pump is designed to perform multiple functions: aspiration of body fluids during drainage mode, and flushing of the drainage line during cleaning mode. The pump connects to both the drainage line and auxiliary flushing line, allowing it to switch between functions using a valve system, thereby eliminating the need for a separate flushing pump
2Reliability
If external air is introduced during flushing, then the drainage line can be flushed effectively, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the patient's own body cavity as a sterile reservoir for flushing fluid. The auxiliary line draws flushing fluid from the body cavity itself, creating a closed sterile loop that prevents external contamination. This eliminates the need to introduce external air or non-sterile fluids into the system
3Measurement precision
If additional pumps are added for pressure measurement, then pressure in body cavities can be measured, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single pump system is equipped with pressure sensors that measure pressure during both aspiration and flushing operations. The same pump and circuit system used for fluid removal also enables pressure measurement, eliminating the need for additional dedicated measurement pumps while providing comprehensive pressure monitoring capability
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed circuit is formed for flushing, then contamination is minimized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary flushing line is integrated with the existing drainage line and pump system to form a closed circuit. The circuit combines the pump, drainage line, fluid collection container, and auxiliary line into a unified system that recirculates sterile fluid, minimizing contamination while using existing system components
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
The system effectively prevents and removes obstructions, minimizes contamination risk, and allows for accurate pressure measurement in body cavities using a single pump, reducing manufacturing costs and maintaining a sterile environment by eliminating the need for external air during flushing.
Implementation Method 1
a pump for generating in the drainage line the negative pressure used to aspirate the fluid
Implementation Method 2
a two-way valve which, in a first position, establishes a connection between the pump and the auxiliary line through which air or liquid can flow from the pump
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a pressure sensor for obstruction detection and pressure measurement
Data Source
AI summary
A system for aspirating fluids from a body by means of negative pressure has: a drainage line for removing the fluid from the body, a fluid collection container connected to the drainage line and used to collect the aspirated fluid, a pump by which the negative pressure used to aspirate the fluid is generated in the drainage line, and an auxiliary line whose end near the body is in fluidic communication with an end, near the body, of the drainage line. In the system, an approximately closed circuit is present or can be generated which interconnects this pump, the auxiliary line, the drainage line and the fluid collection container and through which air or a liquid can be pumped, wherein the auxiliary line is usable for flushing the drainage line. This system prevents and removes obstructions in the drainage line and also permits a relatively accurate measurement of the negative pressure in the body cavity.