Extracorporeal Blood Treatment Apparatus with Hematic Volume Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current extracorporeal blood treatment systems lack the ability to adapt effectively to individual patient characteristics and needs during dialysis, leading to complications such as hypotension, cramps, vomiting, and headache, due to inadequate real-time monitoring and control of hematic volume changes.

Innovation Solution

An automatic control system for extracorporeal blood treatment that uses sensors to monitor hematic volume and weight loss, adjusting ultrafiltration and infusion rates based on real-time patient responses, with a control unit calculating desired hematic volume changes and adjusting treatment parameters like osmolarity and infusion velocity to maintain optimal patient well-being.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic control of hematic volume and weight loss is implemented, then patient well-being is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient well-beingVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors hematic volume changes and weight loss during dialysis, using sensor feedback to automatically adjust ultrafiltration rates and treatment parameters in real-time, thereby maintaining patient well-being without requiring complex manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-regulation by automatically detecting patient physiological responses and adjusting treatment parameters independently, reducing the need for operator intervention and simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If real-time monitoring of hematic volume is implemented, then adaptability to individual patient needs is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to patient needsVSAvoidhematic volume measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses continuous feedback from hematic volume sensors to dynamically adjust ultrafiltration rates, enabling real-time adaptation to individual patient responses while using standard measurement precision to achieve personalized treatment optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts treatment parameters based on real-time hematic volume changes, transitioning from static predetermined protocols to dynamic, patient-specific control strategies that adapt to individual physiological responses during treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If ultrafiltration rate is increased to remove more fluid, then weight loss is improved, but risk of hypotension increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight loss rateVSAvoidhypotension risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors patient blood pressure and hematic volume during ultrafiltration, automatically reducing the ultrafiltration rate when hypotension is detected, thereby maximizing weight loss while preventing harmful hypotensive episodes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system anticipates potential hypotension by monitoring trends in blood pressure and hematic volume changes, preemptively adjusting ultrafiltration rates before harmful hypotensive effects occur, rather than reacting after symptoms manifest

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 system prevents complications by precisely adapting to individual patient reactions, ensuring maximum well-being during treatment by effectively managing hematic volume changes and preventing adverse events like hypotension and cramps.

Implementation Method 1

a blood chamber (3) and a fluid chamber (4) which are separated from one another by a semipermeable membrane (5)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSemipermeable membrane separation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

an ultrafiltration pump velocity is gradually increased or respectively reduced

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrafiltration:

Implementation Method 3

control of the amount of patient weight loss and the conductivity of the dialysis fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conductivity measurement: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 4

monitoring the change in the hematic volume of the patient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHematocrit measurement:

Data Source

PatentUS8684959B2Extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus

Publication Date: 2014.04.01 GAMBRO LUNDIA AB

AI summary

An extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus comprises a sensor (10) for emitting a signal indicating a change of hematic volume of an individual (7) subjected to a treatment and a weight loss system for actuating the individual's weight loss. A control unit (20) receives an effective weight value of the individual and a desired weight loss value and from these values determines a desired value of a change in hematic volume at end of treatment. The weight loss system is controlled on a basis of the hematic volume change signal and the desired value of the hematic volume change. The apparatus enables automatic control of a dialysis operation while preventing some complications arising from hypotension.