Automated Therapy Catheter Sensor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices lack efficient and automated systems for controlling fluid infusion in patients, leading to suboptimal therapy and increased nursing burden due to the need for manual monitoring of patient parameters and fluid management.
Innovation Solution
An automated therapy system incorporating infusion catheters with integrated or separate sensors to monitor patient parameters such as cardiac output, blood pressure, and pH, allowing for real-time adjustment of fluid flow without fluid extraction, and utilizing RFID technology for data collection and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated therapy system with sensor control is implemented, then fluid infusion optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (infusion delivery, fluid extraction, and sensor monitoring) into a single integrated catheter system. The catheter includes both infusion and extraction lumens along with integrated sensors for monitoring patient parameters, eliminating the need for separate monitoring devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining automated control capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it can infuse fluids, extract fluids, and monitor patient parameters all through a single device. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate devices needed and simplifies the overall therapy system while improving fluid management efficiency
2Ease of operation
If manual monitoring of patient parameters is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but nursing workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-monitoring through integrated sensors that automatically detect patient parameters such as pressure, flow rate, and temperature. The catheter system self-regulates fluid management based on sensor feedback, reducing the need for continuous manual monitoring by nursing staff while maintaining high levels of patient care
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor patient parameters and automatically adjust infusion and extraction rates. The controller receives sensor signals and modifies pump operation in real-time, creating a closed-loop system that reduces manual intervention while optimizing therapy delivery
3Reliability
If fluid extraction is performed during infusion, then fluid balance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into separate functional lumens - one for fluid infusion and another for fluid extraction. This segmentation allows independent control of infusion and extraction processes while maintaining a unified catheter structure, enabling precise fluid balance management without requiring completely separate device systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges infusion and extraction functions within a single catheter assembly, with each lumen dedicated to a specific function. The integrated design allows coordinated control of both fluid delivery and removal through a unified system, improving fluid balance while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate devices
Data Source
AI summary
An automated therapy system having an infusion catheter; a sensor adapted to sense a patient parameter; and a controller communicating with the sensor and programmed to control flow output from the infusion catheter into a patient based on the patient parameter without removing fluid from the patient. The invention also includes a method of controlling infusion of a fluid to a patient. The method includes the following steps: monitoring a patient parameter with a sensor to generate a sensor signal; providing the sensor signal to a controller; and adjusting fluid flow to the patient based on the sensor signal without removing fluid from the patient.