Balancing Unit with Mobile Partition for Dialysis Fluid Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dialysis apparatuses require large quantities of dialyzing fluid, which is inefficient, especially in acute renal insufficiency cases where RO water connections are not available, leading to high handling costs and fluid waste.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that incorporate a balancing unit with one or two chambers into the fluid circuit of the dialysis apparatus, allowing for continuous supply and discharge of fresh and used fluid at different flow rates, with a bypass ensuring uninterrupted fluid flow through the dialyzer, reducing the need for dialyzing fluid and enabling recirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large quantities of dialyzing fluid are used in conventional dialysis apparatuses, then the dialyzing fluid chamber can be continuously supplied with fresh fluid, but this leads to high handling costs and fluid waste, especially in acute renal insufficiency cases where RO water connections are not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recirculation circuit that collects used dialyzing fluid from the drain line and returns it to the balancing chamber. This allows the fluid to be reused multiple times through repeated balancing cycles, directly reducing fluid consumption while maintaining continuous supply to the dialyzing fluid chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing chamber operates continuously to supply fresh dialyzing fluid to the dialyzing fluid chamber, while the recirculation circuit ensures uninterrupted flow by constantly returning used fluid for rebalancing. This continuous operation eliminates interruptions in fluid supply while minimizing waste
2Reliability
If two balancing chambers are used in parallel to ensure continuous flow, then continuous supply of dialyzing fluid is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a mobile partition wall within a single balancing chamber that can dynamically shift position to alternate between filling and draining phases. This dynamic mechanism allows one chamber to serve the function of two static chambers, maintaining continuous flow while reducing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The single balancing chamber is segmented into two functional zones by the mobile partition wall: a first chamber half for receiving fresh fluid and a second chamber half for discharging used fluid. This segmentation allows the single chamber to perform the functions of two parallel chambers through sequential operation
3Loss of substance
If dialyzing fluid is recirculated to reduce fluid requirement, then fluid consumption is reduced to below 100 ml/min, but the system requires a bypass to maintain flow during balancing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass circuit acts as an intermediary pathway that allows used dialyzing fluid to circumvent the balancing chamber during the filling phase. This mediator circuit ensures continuous flow through the dialyzer while the balancing chamber performs its fluid exchange function, enabling recirculation without interrupting treatment flow
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 requirement for dialyzing fluid, maintains continuous fluid flow through the dialyzer, and simplifies the design by eliminating the need for dual balancing chambers, thereby minimizing fluid usage and handling costs.
Implementation Method 1
A device for conveying fluids into the treatment unit of a medical treatment apparatus, in particular into the dialyzer of a dialysis apparatus, with which device the requirement for dialyzing fluid can be reduced
Implementation Method 2
the fluid with which the treatment unit is supplied circulates in a fluid circuit which includes the treatment unit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and method for conveying fluids into the treatment unit of a medical treatment apparatus. The device and method according to the present invention are based on the fact that the fluid with which the treatment unit is supplied, circulates in a fluid circuit including the treatment unit. To balance fresh and used fluid fed to the treatment unit or conveyed from the treatment unit, a balancing unit with a balancing chamber is used, which can be incorporated into the fluid circuit including the treatment unit. It is thus possible to supply the fluid circuit continuously with fresh fluid or to carry away used fluid continuously from the fluid circuit. The supply and discharge of fresh and used fluid can take place at a different flow rate from the flow rate at which the fluid circulates in the fluid circuit via the treatment unit.