Bulged Elastomeric Membrane for Stable Medical Pump Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical elastomer pumps exhibit a conveying rate that varies with the filled state of the pump volume, leading to inconsistent fluid administration, which is undesirable for medical applications.
Innovation Solution
The elastomeric membrane is designed with multiple bulge portions that form outward bulges, creating a hydraulic parallel circuit of pump volumes with locally varying elastic stretch properties, allowing for a more consistent conveying rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastomeric membrane is elastically stretched in a filled state, then the conveying pressure is generated to convey the medical fluid, but the conveying rate varies across the filled state leading to inconsistent fluid administration
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric membrane is divided into multiple bulge portions (at least two, preferably three or more) that are distributed over its surface. Each bulge portion independently forms a pump volume portion when stretched, creating multiple parallel fluid pathways. This segmentation distributes the conveying function across multiple elements, reducing the variation in conveying rate as the pump empties and improving overall reliability of fluid administration.
2Reliability
If the pump volume is subdivided into multiple pump volume portions, then the conveying pressure dependence on filled state is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric membrane itself serves as both the structural element and the flexible container. By forming bulge portions directly in the membrane, the invention creates multiple pump volume portions without requiring additional rigid structures or compartments. The membrane's elasticity and flexibility enable the bulge portions to form and function autonomously, maintaining simplicity while achieving stable conveying pressure.
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 design stabilizes the conveying pressure and rate, ensuring a more constant fluid delivery, enhancing patient safety and treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
the elastomeric membrane is elastically stretched in a filled state of the pump volume at least partially filled with the medical fluid, as a result of which the elastically stretched elastomeric membrane exerts a conveying pressure on the pump volume so as to convey the medical fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A medical elastomer pump and an elastomeric membrane for use in infusion therapy. The elastomeric membrane forms a pump volume for receiving and delivering a medical fluid. In a filled state of the pump volume, in which the pump volume is filled at least in part with the medical fluid, the elastomeric membrane is resiliently stretched. The resiliently stretched elastomeric membrane applies a delivery pressure onto the pump volume for delivering the medical fluid. The elastomeric membrane has a plurality of bulge portions which, at least in the filled state, are convex, each forming a bulge. The bulges each form a pump volume portion of the pump volume.