Color Camera Blood Loss Detection in Extracorporeal Dialysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for extracorporeal blood treatment fail to reliably detect blood loss during dialysis due to leaks or disconnections in the extracorporeal circuit, leading to potential patient safety risks, as existing methods are either ineffective or prone to false alarms.
Innovation Solution
A medical device equipped with a color video camera and image analysis system that differentiates blood from skin using the YUV color space, detects blood loss by evaluating pixel information, and triggers an alarm and shuts off the blood pump when excessive blood loss is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional venous pressure monitoring is used to detect blood loss, then the system is simple to operate, but the detection reliability is insufficient because pressure drops depend on multiple factors and do not reliably indicate cannula disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/pressure-based monitoring system with an optical detection system using a color camera. Instead of measuring pressure changes that are influenced by multiple factors (blood flow, hematocrit, cannula resistance, vascular pressure), the system directly visually detects blood leakage by capturing images and analyzing color information, providing reliable detection without the limitations of pressure monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image analysis system as an intermediary between the physical blood leakage and the alarm system. The color camera captures visual information, the image analysis software processes the color data to detect blood, and this intermediary processing layer translates physical leakage into reliable digital detection signals that trigger alarms
2Measurement precision
If a lower limit venous pressure value is set close to current pressure to detect disconnection, then the system may detect blood loss, but it causes false alarms when pressure naturally fluctuates or requires alarm without actual disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the color change property of blood as the detection mechanism. The color camera captures the distinctive red color of blood, and the image analysis system processes color information (e.g., using HSV color space with hue, saturation, value parameters) to specifically identify blood leakage. This color-based detection is highly specific to blood and does not respond to normal pressure fluctuations, eliminating false alarms while precisely detecting actual disconnections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the physical situation by capturing images of the treatment area with a color camera. This optical copy allows remote visual monitoring and analysis of blood leakage without directly interfering with the physiological parameters being monitored, providing precise detection independent of pressure fluctuations
3Reliability
If nursing staff manually monitor patients for blood loss, then the system is simple and requires no additional technology, but the staff cannot always be close to patients as they must look after multiple patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the monitoring system to serve itself by automatically detecting blood leakage through color image analysis. The system autonomously captures images, processes color information to identify blood, determines leakage locations and amounts, and triggers alarms without requiring continuous human observation. This automated self-monitoring provides reliable patient safety assurance while reducing dependency on nursing staff availability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection by nursing staff with an automated optical detection system. The color camera and image analysis software substitute for human eyes and judgment, providing continuous automated monitoring that does not depend on staff presence or attention, thereby ensuring reliable patient safety monitoring across multiple patients simultaneously
4Measurement precision
If electrodes are placed near the cannula to detect blood loss through conductive connection, then the system can detect disconnection, but it requires additional manipulations by personnel and can produce false alarms from sweat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical/conductive detection method with an optical detection method using a color camera. Instead of placing electrodes near the cannula and measuring conductive connections (which requires careful personnel manipulation and is susceptible to false alarms from sweat), the system uses non-contact optical imaging to detect blood leakage, eliminating the need for additional manipulations and improving ease of operation while maintaining detection precision
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 provides reliable detection of blood loss with high certainty, reducing the risk of patient harm by accurately identifying and responding to blood leaks in the extracorporeal circuit, thereby ensuring patient safety during treatments.
Implementation Method 1
A medical device with a color video camera (17) aimed at a treatment station (2) or a patient located there
Data Source
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AI summary
The medical appliance has lines (22, 23) that are connected to the vascular system of a patient. To ensure that an accidental escape of blood is identified, a camera (17) is provided and is directed at the extracorporeal circulation of the patient. The image signals from the camera (17) are processed in the sense that the colour of blood and/or its arrangement in the image area in the camera image is determined, wherein the size of the recorded image area with the colour of blood is also determined. In this way, an extracorporeal blood loss can be detected and signalled automatically.