Blood Leakage Detection via Volatile Agent Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting blood leakage from wounds, especially in surgical and dialysis settings, often result in delayed detection due to disposable devices being either costly or complex, leading to potential substantial blood loss.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a non-volatile agent capable of forming a volatile agent upon contact with blood, combined with a gas detection probe and an air flow mechanism to detect bleeding, where the agent is applied on a support near the wound and the probe is positioned at a distance to monitor the formation of the volatile agent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a disposable optical fiber device is used to detect blood leakage, then detection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into three functional modules: a non-volatile agent layer applied to the wound, a volatile agent generation layer that converts contact with blood into detectable volatile compounds, and a separate gas detection probe positioned remotely. This segmentation allows the detection system to be distributed rather than integrated, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A chemical intermediary system is introduced where non-volatile agents (such as iron salts or organic compounds) react with blood to generate volatile agents (such as volatile organic compounds or gases). This intermediary chemical reaction serves as a mediator that transforms the detection target from direct blood contact to indirect volatile compound detection, enabling remote sensing and simplifying the probe design.
2Reliability
If a disposable optical fiber device is used to detect blood leakage, then detection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The non-volatile agent layer is designed as a disposable component that is applied directly to the wound and discarded after use, while the expensive gas detection probe is a reusable device that can serve multiple patients. This selective disposability reduces overall manufacturing costs while maintaining detection reliability for each individual use case.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection mechanism changes from optical parameter detection (light attenuation through blood contact) to chemical parameter detection (presence of volatile agents). This parameter change enables the use of simpler, less expensive sensors that detect chemical composition rather than requiring complex optical fiber systems, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability.
3Speed
If a pressure sensor is used to detect cannula loosening, then detection speed is improved, but detection reliability worsens due to inability to monitor venous needle loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The gas detection probe serves multiple detection functions: it can detect volatile agents generated from both arterial and venous cannula sites, and can monitor both immediate bleeding and gradual blood leakage. This universal detection capability replaces the need for separate pressure sensors at each cannula site, improving reliability while maintaining fast detection response.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical pressure sensing system is replaced with a chemical detection system that identifies blood leakage through volatile agent generation. This substitution eliminates the need for direct mechanical contact with each cannula site, allowing remote monitoring of multiple sites simultaneously and improving detection reliability across different cannula locations.
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 method allows for early and reliable detection of blood leakage, reducing the risk of significant blood loss by using a more economical and simpler system that is safer and less prone to evaporation issues, ensuring timely intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially non-volatile agent capable of forming a volatile agent on contact with blood
Implementation Method 2
generating a flow of air in a direction from the support to the probe
Implementation Method 3
a probe for detection of the volatile agent
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
A method of detecting bleeding from a wound comprises: providing, on a support, a substantially non-volatile agent capable of forming a volatile agent on contact with blood; disposing the non-volatile agent on the support at or near the wound; providing a probe for detection of the volatile agent; disposing the probe for detection of the volatile agent at a distance from the support; generating a flow of air in a direction from the support to the probe; monitoring the formation of volatile agent by the probe, thereby detecting a bleeding of the wound. Also disclosed are a system and a disposable device for use in the method.