Dialysate Management System with Sloped Base and Integrated Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dialysis systems are inefficient in generating filtered, heated dialysate, leading to prolonged treatment times and increased patient discomfort due to serial filtering and heating processes, and often result in errors related to dialysate composition and quantity.
Innovation Solution
A dialysate management system comprising a container with a sloped internal base surface and a base enclosure that includes a scale and conductivity sensor, allowing for wireless data transmission to a dialysis machine, enabling rapid heating and accurate measurement of dialysate composition without the need for integrated heating and conductivity measurement elements in the dialysis machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dialysate is filtered and heated in a serial process using conventional systems, then the dialysate can be prepared, but the treatment time is prolonged and patient comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-heats dialysate in a separate reservoir before it enters the main filtration and delivery system. By performing the heating action in advance (preliminary action), the dialysate is already at the required temperature when delivered to the patient, eliminating the need for time-consuming serial heating during the treatment process and reducing overall treatment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The dialysis system is divided into separate functional modules: a dedicated reservoir for heating, a filtration system, and a delivery system. This segmentation allows parallel operation of heating and filtration processes rather than serial processing, significantly improving dialysate preparation speed and reducing treatment time while maintaining patient comfort.
2Reliability
If conventional dialysis systems use integrated heating and conductivity measurement elements, then the system is complete, but the device complexity increases and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The external base unit serves multiple functions: it acts as a weighing scale for the reservoir, provides conductivity measurement of the dialysate solution, and serves as a support structure for the reservoir. By consolidating these functions into a single external unit rather than integrating them into the main dialysis machine, the system maintains completeness and reliability while reducing overall device complexity and improving portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element and conductivity measurement components are extracted from the main dialysis system and placed in a separate external base unit. This extraction reduces the complexity of the primary dialysis device, making it more portable, while the external unit maintains all necessary functions for reliable dialysate preparation and monitoring.
3Device complexity
If manual measurement and monitoring of dialysate composition is performed, then the system is simpler, but errors in dialysate composition and quantity occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automatic weighing and conductivity measurement capabilities that provide real-time feedback on dialysate composition and quantity. The scale continuously monitors the reservoir weight to track dialysate volume, while the conductivity sensor verifies solution concentration. This automated feedback system eliminates manual measurement errors and ensures accurate dialysate preparation without requiring complex manual monitoring procedures.
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 solution reduces the time required for dialysate preparation, minimizes errors in dialysate composition, and enhances the portability of the dialysis system by eliminating the need for a separate reservoir, thereby shortening treatment times and improving patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element configured to heat the dialysate fluid as it flows through the fluid pathway
Implementation Method 2
a conductivity sensor positioned proximate the bottom portion of the container and configured to measure a conductivity of the fluid in the container
Implementation Method 3
a base enclosure configured to detachably receive a bottom portion of the container, wherein said base enclosure comprises: a first scale in physical communication with the bottom portion of the container and configured to weigh the fluid positioned within the container
Implementation Method 4
a container configured to hold fluid, wherein the container comprises an internal base surface that, relative to a substantially horizontal surface, has a slope in a range of 0.1 degrees to 50 degrees
Data Source
AI summary
The present specification provides a dialysate management system for generating, weighing, and heating a dialysate fluid during a dialysis treatment. The dialysate management system includes a container and base enclosure. A bottom surface of the container rests within the base enclosure, which is configured to weigh the fluid in the container and measure its conductivity. The fluid may be heated using a heater integrated into the base enclosure or positioned in-line with a fluid pathway. The base of the container is preferably sloped and positioned within the internal volume of the container is a disposable prescription bag having a predefined quantity of prescription compositions that dissolve when water is poured into the container.