Reversing Blood Pump Flow for Extracorporeal Circuit Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing blood from extracorporeal blood circuits after treatment sessions are inadequate for ensuring hygiene and efficient fluid management, leading to potential contamination risks during further handling or disposal.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a blood pump that reverses direction to convey fluid from the arterial to the venous line section, with a venous addition point connected to the arterial line, allowing for the removal of blood using a blood treatment device and control device, facilitated by a computer program product to initiate mechanical steps, ensuring complete or partial blood removal from the extracorporeal circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If blood is removed from extracorporeal blood circuits using conventional methods, then some blood remains in the circuit, but the process is simple and quick
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by reversing the normal blood flow direction in the extracorporeal circuit. The blood pump is operated in reverse to draw blood from the venous line section back through the blood treatment device and into the arterial line section, creating a reverse flow that effectively removes blood from the circuit in a controlled manner while maintaining system integrity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the blood pump operates in reverse direction to remove blood, then blood removal effectiveness improves, but the risk of air embolism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing air detection and air bubble removal operations before initiating reverse blood flow. The system checks for air in the venous line section and removes air bubbles in advance, preparing the circuit to safely handle reverse flow operations and preventing air embolism risks before they can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through air bubble detectors that continuously monitor the blood circuit during reverse flow operations. The system detects air bubbles in real-time and provides feedback to the control device, which can then adjust or stop the reverse flow to prevent air embolism, creating a closed-loop safety system
3Productivity
If conventional blood removal methods are used, then the process is quick, but hygiene standards are not adequately met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by implementing a comprehensive blood removal process that operates continuously until complete removal is achieved. The reverse blood flow process continues systematically through the entire circuit, ensuring all blood is removed without interruption or gaps that could compromise hygiene standards, while maintaining efficient throughput
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 effectively reduces contamination risks by ensuring thorough blood removal from extracorporeal circuits, allowing for safe handling and disposal, and can be implemented with existing blood treatment devices through a simple software update, enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
conveying the fluid still present in the extracorporeal blood circuit after the end of the blood treatment session by means of a blood pump which has already been used for the blood treatment
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for removing blood from an extracorporeal blood circuit (2000) and/or a functional device (1000), each of which can be connected or is connected to a blood treatment device for the purpose of blood treatment of a patient, after completion of the blood treatment session, wherein the blood treatment device has or is connected to at least one extracorporeal blood circuit (2000) with a conduit interior, wherein the extracorporeal blood circuit (2000) has at least one arterial conduit section (1) and at least one venous conduit section (3);at least one blood pump (4000) for pumping blood within the conduit interior, the method comprising the step of operating the blood pump (4000) in a second pumping direction opposite to the first pumping direction customary during blood treatment, wherein a first section of the arterial conduit section (1) is or is connected to a second section of the venous conduit section (3) of the extracorporeal blood circuit (2000). It further relates to corresponding devices.