Blood Heating Fluid Path With Dielectric RF Windows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical fluid delivery systems face issues such as hydrophobic membranes clogging, height difference limitations, cavitation due to flow resistance, significant pressure required for priming, backpriming of unused lines, damage to large molecules, and ineffective gas release, particularly when heating medical fluids like blood.
Innovation Solution
A medical fluid delivery device with integrated one-way valves, passive gas release mechanisms, ohmic heating, non-occluding plungers, continuous flow systems, guided insertion, self-priming, feedback control, fluid detectors, and active gas release, along with components like conduits, chambers, and sensors to prevent backflow, release gas, heat fluids efficiently, and ensure safe delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrophobic membranes are used to prevent backflow, then fluid isolation is improved, but the membranes clog upon contact with blood
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hydrophobic membrane component entirely and replaces it with a purely mechanical valve system consisting of a valve body, valve seat, and actuator mechanism. This extraction of the problematic membrane eliminates the clogging issue while maintaining the backflow prevention function through mechanical means alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the membrane-based passive barrier with an active mechanical valve system that uses a movable valve element actuated by a control mechanism. This substitution allows for precise control of fluid flow and eliminates the clogging problem inherent in membrane systems.
2Reliability
If manual clamping is required to prevent backflow, then fluid isolation is improved, but user intervention and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-actuating valve mechanism that automatically opens and closes based on fluid pressure differentials and flow conditions. The valve system monitors and responds to system state changes autonomously, eliminating the need for manual clamping or user intervention while maintaining reliable backflow prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates pressure sensors and flow detectors that provide real-time feedback to the valve control mechanism. This feedback system enables the valve to automatically adjust its state based on actual system conditions, ensuring proper fluid isolation without requiring manual operation.
3Productivity
If high pressure is applied to prime the system, then fluid flow is improved, but cavitation and damage to large molecules occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pre-flush mechanism that introduces priming fluid through a separate bypass line before the main blood flow is activated. This preliminary action primes the pump and conduits gently without subjecting blood to high pressure, preventing cavitation and hemolysis while ensuring proper system lubrication and air elimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the fluid delivery system into separate pathways: a priming line for initial system conditioning and a main line for blood delivery. This segmentation allows the priming process to occur at low pressure without transmitting high pressure to the blood, thereby preventing damage to large molecules and red blood cells.
4Reliability
If one-way valves are installed in each upstream conduit, then backflow prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual one-way valves into a single integrated valve assembly that controls flow for multiple upstream conduits simultaneously. This merged valve system maintains the backflow prevention function while significantly reducing the total number of valve components and simplifying the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal valve control mechanism that can regulate flow for multiple upstream conduits through a single actuation system. This multi-functional valve assembly performs the backflow prevention function for all conduits without requiring separate valves in each, thereby reducing device complexity.
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 device prevents backflow and clogging, allows efficient gas release, heats fluids uniformly, pumps without damage, and ensures accurate, continuous delivery with minimal user intervention, reducing waste and enhancing safety and efficiency in medical fluid administration.
Implementation Method 1
A one-way valve fitted in each upstream conduit prevents fluid from flowing upstream past the one-way valve
Implementation Method 2
Passive gas release mechanisms
Implementation Method 3
Passive gas release mechanisms
Implementation Method 4
Ohmic heating
Implementation Method 5
Non-occluding plungers
Implementation Method 6
Continuous flow systems
Implementation Method 7
Feedback control
Implementation Method 8
Fluid detectors
Implementation Method 9
Active gas release
Data Source
AI summary
A method including coupling a disposable device to a reusable device, wherein the disposable device includes: a heating segment including a fluid conduit including an inlet and an outlet, a first dielectric window at an upstream location, and a second dielectric window at a downstream location, wherein the reusable device includes: a receptacle configured to receive the disposable device, a first electrode positioned to be aligned with the first dielectric window, and a second electrode positioned to be aligned with the second dielectric window; supplying blood to the inlet to pass the blood through the fluid conduit; and activating the reusable device to cause the reusable device to apply an RF current between the first electrode and second electrodes, whereby the RF current is conducted into the fluid conduit through the first and second dielectric windows, thereby being conducted through the blood in the fluid conduit to heat the blood.