Blood Return Pressure Control Using Positive-Pressure Dialysate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood purification apparatuses face issues with negative pressure formation in the blood circuit during blood return procedures, particularly when power supply is interrupted, leading to undesirable conditions.
Innovation Solution
A blood purification apparatus is designed with an air introduction route that sets the dialysate circuit to a positive pressure, using air introducers to control the flow of dialysate and prevent or alleviate negative pressure in the blood circuit, ensuring safe and effective blood return even during power outages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the blood pump is rotated to draw dialysate into the blood circuit, then blood return is achieved, but negative pressure is generated in the blood circuit which is harmful
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces air as an intermediary substance into the dialysate circuit. This air acts as a mediator that transmits pressure from the dialysate circuit to the blood circuit through the blood purifier membrane, enabling blood return without directly applying negative pressure to the blood circuit. The air bubbles facilitate pressure transmission while preventing harmful negative pressure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic pressure by introducing air into the dialysate circuit to create positive pressure. This pneumatic approach replaces the traditional hydraulic suction method (blood pump rotation) with a pressure-driven mechanism that pushes dialysate and blood through the system, eliminating the need for negative pressure generation.
2Ease of operation
If air is introduced into the filter through air introduction line, then dialysate can be drawn into blood circuit, but the circuit portion at entrance side of blood pump becomes prone to negative pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by instead of using suction (negative pressure) to draw dialysate into the blood circuit, it uses pressure application (positive pressure via air introduction) to push dialysate into the blood circuit. This inversion of the pressure gradient eliminates the harmful negative pressure condition while achieving the same operational goal.
3Reliability
If blood pump is used for blood return, then blood can be returned to body, but the system requires power supply which may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the system to serve itself during power outages by utilizing the air introduction mechanism and existing pressure differentials. The air introducer can operate with minimal or no power by leveraging the pressure generated from dialysate flow and air compression, allowing blood return to continue without external power supply to the blood pump.
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 apparatus effectively prevents or reduces negative pressure in the blood circuit, ensuring safe and reliable blood return to the patient by maintaining positive pressure in the dialysate circuit, thereby enhancing operational safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an air introducer provided to any of the dialysate circuit and the air introduction route and configured to set the dialysate circuit to a positive pressure by introducing air into the dialysate circuit through the air introduction route
Implementation Method 2
a controller configured to control the air introducer in such a way as to feed a dialysate from the dialysate circuit to the blood circuit, and to control the blood circuit and the dialysate circuit in such a way as to return blood in the blood circuit and the blood purifier to a body by feeding the dialysate from the dialysate circuit to the blood circuit
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a blood purification apparatus that returns blood in a blood circuit to a body. A blood purification apparatus includes: a blood circuit and a dialysate circuit coupled to each other through a blood purifier; an air introduction route coupled to the dialysate circuit; an air introducer provided to any of the dialysate circuit and the air introduction route and configured to set the dialysate circuit to a positive pressure by introducing air into the dialysate circuit through the air introduction route; and a controller configured to control the air introducer in such a way as to feed a dialysate from the dialysate circuit to the blood circuit, and to control the blood circuit and the dialysate circuit in such a way as to return blood in the blood circuit and the blood purifier to a body by feeding the dialysate from the dialysate circuit to the blood circuit.