Blood Treatment Concentrate Container Upward-Opening Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional blood treatment devices require manual handling of concentrate containers during disinfection, leading to contamination risks and issues with liquid concentrate dripping, which can cause clogging and hygiene problems.

Innovation Solution

A container design that allows automatic connection to the blood treatment device after disinfection, with upward-opening connection elements to prevent dripping and a simplified structure for easier manufacturing and filter integration, using attachment and connection elements oriented at right angles for secure and hygienic fluid coupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual handling of the container is required to remove the lid/seal before fluidically connecting the container to the blood treatment device, then the connection process can be completed, but the risk of contamination increases and hygiene is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehygieneVSAvoidmanual handling requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container is designed with a self-opening mechanism where the lid/seal is automatically removed through interaction between the blood treatment machine and the container during the connection process, eliminating the need for manual lid removal by medical personnel and thereby preventing contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The lid/seal removal action is performed automatically as part of the connection sequence before fluidic connection is established, ensuring the opening is prepared in advance without requiring manual intervention that could cause contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the connection element of the container is opened in a downward direction to allow gravity to assist insertion, then the connection process becomes easier, but liquid concentrate can drip from the connection element causing clogging and hygiene problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection easeVSAvoidliquid concentrate dripping

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of opening the connection element in the conventional downward direction, the connection element is opened in an upward direction, which prevents liquid concentrate from dripping into the connection element while still allowing gravity to assist the insertion movement of the connection element into the blood treatment device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the connection element is opened in a downward direction, then the structure is simple, but liquid concentrate collects in the connection element causing undesired crystallization and potential clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection element structureVSAvoidclogging risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection element is inverted in its opening direction from downward to upward, which maintains structural simplicity while preventing liquid concentrate from collecting in the connection element, thereby eliminating the risk of crystallization and clogging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20220339334A1System and method for opening a concentrate container and connecting the concentrate container to a blood treatment device

Publication Date: 2022.10.27 FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

AI summary

The present invention refers to a system and method for opening a concentrate container without the need for a human to directly handle the concentrate container and connecting the concentrate container to a blood treatment device. Aspects of the invention are directed to a container for concentrate and a blood treatment device.