Intraoperative Blood Loss Quantification Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring blood loss during surgeries are inaccurate, relying on visual estimation and are inefficient, leading to unnecessary blood transfusions and increased healthcare costs, as they fail to provide real-time and precise measurements of blood concentration and volume.
Innovation Solution
An interoperative blood loss quantification device that includes a peristaltic pump, stepper motor, cuvette, spectrophotometer, and processing circuits to determine blood concentration and volume, using dual isosbestic point measurements with lasers to calculate absorbance values and estimate blood loss based on hemoglobin concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual estimation methods are used to monitor blood loss, then the monitoring process is simple and quick, but the measurement accuracy is poor leading to unnecessary blood transfusions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual estimation with automated optical measurement using a spectrophotometer. The device uses light absorption principles to objectively measure blood concentration in suctioned fluids, eliminating subjective visual assessment and providing precise quantitative data about blood loss during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-measurement by automatically analyzing fluid samples drawn from the surgical field. The spectrophotometer continuously monitors blood concentration without requiring manual intervention or interpretation by surgical staff, providing real-time objective data that directly guides transfusion decisions.
2Reliability
If real-time blood concentration monitoring is implemented, then unnecessary blood transfusions are reduced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical measurement technology (spectrophotometry) to replace unreliable visual estimation. The spectrophotometer uses light absorption at specific wavelengths to accurately determine blood concentration, providing reliable real-time data that directly reduces unnecessary transfusions while maintaining manageable device complexity through automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous real-time feedback on blood concentration levels during surgery. This feedback loop allows the surgical team to make informed decisions about transfusion timing and necessity, improving reliability by basing decisions on objective measured data rather than estimation, while the automated nature keeps complexity manageable.
3Loss of substance
If automated blood loss quantification is used, then healthcare costs are reduced by avoiding unnecessary transfusions, but the initial device investment and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses automated optical measurement to replace manual blood loss assessment. This substitution provides precise quantification of actual blood loss, preventing wasteful transfusions of blood products and reducing healthcare costs associated with unnecessary transfusions, while the automated system manages complexity through standardized operation protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs self-analysis of surgical fluids to determine blood concentration and calculate blood loss. This self-service capability provides continuous monitoring data without requiring additional manual intervention, reducing blood product waste through accurate measurement while keeping operational complexity manageable through automated processing.
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 provides accurate, real-time monitoring of blood loss, reducing the need for unnecessary blood transfusions and optimizing blood supply by accurately determining the volume and concentration of blood lost during surgeries, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Implementation Method 1
a spectrophotometer positioned within the housing and configured to provide an absorbance signal indicative of properties of the fluid flowing through the cuvette
Implementation Method 2
the spectrophotometer includes a laser configured to obtain a dual isosbestic point measurement
Implementation Method 3
a peristaltic pump positioned within the housing, a stepper motor positioned within the housing and driving the peristaltic pump
Data Source
AI summary
An interoperative blood loss quantification device that including a housing, a peristaltic pump positioned within the housing, a stepper motor positioned within the housing and driving the peristaltic pump, a cuvette positioned within the housing and configured to receive fluid moved by the peristaltic pump, a spectrophotometer positioned within the housing and configured to provide an absorbance signal indicative of properties of the fluid flowing through the cuvette, and one or more processing circuits that control operation of the stepper motor, determine a volume of fluid moved through the peristaltic pump, determine a blood concentration based on the absorbance signal received from the spectrophotometer, and determine a total volume of blood moved by the peristaltic pump based on the volume of fluid and the blood concentration