Constant-Volume Disposable Pump for Quiet Peritoneal Dialysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peritoneal dialysis systems are complex, noisy, and have high maintenance costs due to the use of stepper motors, high-pressure pumps, and air-operated balloon valves, leading to potential reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A peritoneal dialysis system utilizing a disposable cassette with pinch valves and an air pump controlled by a computer processor to manage fluid flow phases, eliminating the need for separate valving components and reducing noise by using a piston pump actuated by a brushless direct current motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stepper motors and high-pressure pumps are used to drive the pumping chamber, then fluid pumping function is achieved, but noise level increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical pumping systems (stepper motors, high-pressure pumps) with a pneumatic diaphragm pump system. The diaphragm pump uses pneumatic pressure to actuate the diaphragm, eliminating noisy mechanical components while maintaining reliable fluid pumping function. This substitution directly addresses both the noise reduction and reliability improvement goals.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex pneumatic systems with multiple components are used, then fluid control functions are achieved, but device complexity increases and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fluid control functions into a single integrated diaphragm pump unit. The pump chamber, diaphragm, check valves, and fluid pathways are merged into one compact assembly that performs filling, draining, and fluid transfer functions. This integration reduces the number of separate components while maintaining comprehensive fluid control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The diaphragm pump system is designed to perform multiple fluid control functions through a single mechanism. By controlling the diaphragm's expansion and contraction, the system can fill the pumping chamber with dialysate, drain spent dialysate, transfer fluid between chambers, and prime the system. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Reliability
If traditional pump systems with multiple components are used, then pumping function is achieved, but maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable pump cassette containing the diaphragm pump and associated components. This disposable unit is designed for single-use or limited-use applications, eliminating the need for complex maintenance and repair operations. The low cost of the disposable cassette makes replacement more economical than maintaining a complex permanent system, directly reducing maintenance costs while ensuring reliable operation throughout the service life of each cassette.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a peritoneal dialysis (PD) system includes a housing that receives a disposable cassette, a plurality of pinch valves that receive respective sections of fluid tubing of the disposable cassette, an air port that forms an airtight seal with an air line of the disposable cassette, an air pump that alternatingly pushes air out of the air port and pulls air in from the air port, and a computer processor that controls the plurality of pinch valves and the air pump such that the cassette performs a dwell phase in which the diaphragm pump pumps fresh dialysate from a dialysate bag to a heater bag, a fill phase in which the diaphragm pump pumps the fresh dialysate from the heater bag to a patient line, and a drain phase in which the diaphragm pump pumps spent dialysate form the patient to a drain.