Extracorporeal Blood Circuit Modality Detection for Faster Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Blood treatment machines are often confusing for users due to the numerous possible configurations and modalities (e.g., hemodialysis, hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration) without adequate guidance on component installation and modality selection, leading to inefficient setup times.

Innovation Solution

A blood treatment system with a user interface and processor that determines the appropriate modality based on installed components and user input, guiding users through efficient setup by eliminating unavailable modalities and providing interactive instructions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the blood treatment machine supports multiple modalities (HD, HF, HDF) with various component configurations, then the adaptability and versatility of the system is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase due to numerous possible configurations and modalities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodality supportVSAvoidsetup complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects installed components (substitution fluid pump, single-needle pump, dialysate lines) and uses this information to autonomously determine which modalities are available, eliminating the need for users to manually configure complex settings. The processor performs the modality determination task that would otherwise require expert knowledge and time-consuming setup procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors component installation status through sensors and user inputs, then dynamically updates the available modality options presented to the user. This feedback loop ensures that the displayed modalities accurately reflect the actual hardware configuration, preventing user confusion about which treatments are possible with the current setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system presents all possible modalities to users, then the adaptability is improved, but the loss of time increases due to user confusion and inefficient setup procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodality optionsVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and removes unavailable modalities from the list of options presented to the user, based on the detected component configuration. Instead of showing all possible modalities and requiring users to figure out which ones are applicable, the system automatically filters out incompatible options, leaving only the relevant modalities that match the installed components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of component installation status before presenting modality options to the user. By determining which components are installed and which modalities are therefore available in advance of user interaction, the system prepares an optimized, context-appropriate list of options that saves users time during the setup process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the system requires manual component installation verification, then the measurement precision of component status is improved, but the loss of time increases due to manual verification steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent detection accuracyVSAvoidverification time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical verification of component installation with automated sensor-based detection. Sensors automatically detect whether components such as the substitution fluid pump, single-needle pump, and dialysate lines are installed, eliminating the need for users to manually verify component status while maintaining accurate detection of the actual hardware configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12465676B2Determining a modality of an extracorporeal blood circuit

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

This disclosure relates to medical fluid pumping systems and related devices and methods. In some aspects, a blood treatment system includes a user interface; a processor in communication with the user interface and configured to perform operations including: presenting instructions on the user interface, the instructions pertaining to at least one modality of a set of modalities, wherein the set of modalities include hemodialysis (HD), hemofiltration (HF), and hemodiafiltration (HDF), wherein the instructions pertain to a component of a blood treatment machine of the blood treatment system; receiving information associated with the component of the blood treatment machine; and eliminating modalities from the set of modalities to determine a modality of the blood treatment machine based on the received information.