Blood Purifier Priming Flow Layout for Low-Dialysate Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood purification devices require different priming methods for pre-infusion and post-infusion, leading to increased workload and risk of human error, and excessive dialysate usage.

Innovation Solution

A blood purification device with a supply passage branching from the upstream side of the arterial passage, allowing dialysate to flow from below to above through the blood purifier, eliminating the need to invert the device and reducing dialysate usage by forming a circulation passage through the blood purifier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pre-infusion is selected with infusion passage branched from arterial passage, then dialysate can be supplied to arterial passage during priming, but blood purifier must be held with arterial side header facing downward requiring inversion before treatment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepriming operationVSAvoiddevice orientation requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by supplying dialysate to the arterial passage from above (downward flow) rather than from below (upward flow). This allows the blood purifier to be held in the treatment orientation (arterial side header up) during priming, eliminating the need to invert the device between priming and treatment phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If all dialysate is drained after passing through hollow fiber membrane during priming, then air can be removed, but large amount of dialysate is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair removalVSAvoiddialysate consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a circulation passage where dialysate continuously circulates through the hollow fiber membrane from above to below and back, rather than draining all dialysate. This continuous circulation maintains air removal effectiveness while significantly reducing dialysate consumption by reusing the same dialysate multiple times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If different priming methods are used for pre-infusion and post-infusion, then each method can be optimized, but workload and risk of human error increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepriming method selectionVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal priming system where the same circulation passage configuration works for both pre-infusion and post-infusion modes. By supplying dialysate to the arterial passage and creating a circulation passage that includes the venous passage, the system achieves consistent priming effectiveness regardless of the selected infusion mode, eliminating the need for different priming procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Reduces the workload on medical personnel, prevents human error, and minimizes dialysate consumption during priming by simplifying the priming process.

Implementation Method 1

a blood pump installed in the arterial passage to pump blood to the blood purifier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

dialysate supply device for supplying dialysate to the blood purifier via the dialysate supply passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

blood is purified in the blood purifier while circulating outside the body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 4

hollow fiber membrane consisting of many hollow fibers installed inside the blood purifier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20260000818A1Blood purification device and method for priming blood circulation passage

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 SHIBUYA IND CO LTD

AI summary

A supply port is provided in a dialysate supply passage and a discharge port is provided in a dialysate discharge passage. A supply passage is branched on an upstream side of a blood pump in the arterial passage, and a venous passage connection part (branch passage) is provided in the supply passage to which a venous passage can be connected. When priming, with the supply passage connected to the supply port, the arterial passage to the discharge port, and the venous passage to the branch passage of the supply passage, respectively, the dialysate supply device and the blood pump are actuated to simultaneously cause dialysate to flow through the arterial passage and the venous passage to prime the blood circulation passage including a blood purifier and a blood circuit.