Dialysate Flow Switching for Efficient Blood Return in Dialysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood return methods in dialysis treatments, such as rehydration and back filtration, fail to effectively utilize the advantages of both processes, leading to inefficiencies in blood return due to occlusion of blood flow routes and excessive dialysate use.
Innovation Solution
A blood purification apparatus that switches between a first blood return process using a rehydration method and a second back filtration method, controlled by a dialysis apparatus with a controller to determine optimal dialysate flow routes based on predetermined flow and return amounts, ensuring efficient blood return with minimal dialysate usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rehydration method is used to return blood to the body, then blood return is achieved, but blood flow routes become occluded and dialysate consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the blood return process into two distinct methods: rehydration method (first blood return process) and back filtration method (second blood return process). The controller selectively switches between these two methods based on treatment conditions, allowing each method to be optimized for specific scenarios rather than using one method for all cases, thereby reducing overall dialysate consumption while maintaining effective blood return.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between rehydration and back filtration methods based on real-time treatment conditions monitored by the controller. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond to changing conditions such as blood flow rate, dialysate flow rate, and treatment time, optimizing blood return efficiency while minimizing dialysate usage in varying treatment scenarios.
2Productivity
If rehydration method is used to return blood to the body, then blood return is achieved, but the complexity of managing multiple flow routes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dialysate circuit is designed to serve multiple functions: it can perform both rehydration (by directing dialysate through the connection flow route) and back filtration (by directing dialysate through the blood purification membrane). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each blood return method, simplifying overall system management despite the presence of multiple flow routes.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors treatment conditions and provides feedback to automatically switch between rehydration and back filtration methods. This automated feedback control reduces the operational complexity of managing multiple flow routes by eliminating the need for manual intervention, allowing the system to self-regulate based on predetermined criteria and real-time conditions.
3Productivity
If back filtration method is used to return blood to the body, then blood return is achieved, but excessive dialysate is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using only the necessary amount of dialysate for each method. The rehydration method uses dialysate to push blood through the connection flow route, while the back filtration method uses dialysate to push blood through the blood purification membrane. By switching between methods, the system applies the minimum necessary dialysate flow for effective blood return in each scenario, avoiding excessive dialysate consumption.
4Productivity
If automatic switching between methods is implemented, then optimal blood return is achieved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses feedback from monitored treatment conditions (blood flow rate, dialysate flow rate, treatment time) to automatically determine when to switch between rehydration and back filtration methods. This feedback mechanism simplifies the control logic by using predetermined switching criteria based on easily measurable parameters, reducing the overall complexity of the control system while maintaining optimal blood return efficiency.
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 apparatus effectively combines rehydration and back filtration methods to ensure complete blood return with reduced dialysate consumption, addressing occlusion issues and optimizing blood recovery.
Implementation Method 1
a blood purifier (a hemodialysis treatment) to filter waste products and water in the blood
Implementation Method 2
causing the dialysate to push out the blood in the blood circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A blood circuit and a dialysate circuit bidirectionally circulate a fluid through a blood purification membrane of a blood purifier, and include a first flow route that causes a dialysate to flow from the dialysate circuit into the blood circuit through a connection flow route connecting the dialysate circuit to the blood circuit while bypassing the blood purifier, and a second flow route that causes the dialysate to flow from the dialysate circuit into the blood circuit through the blood purification membrane. The controller performs control such that blood in the blood circuit is returned to the body by feeding the dialysate to one of these flow routes, determine if a flow amount of the dialysate reaches a predetermined flow amount, and control such that the blood in the blood circuit is returned to the body by feeding the dialysate to the other one of these flow routes.