Dialysis Blood Circuit Error Detection System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting errors in extracorporeal blood circulation, such as venous needle disconnection, during medical treatments like dialysis are inadequate, often resulting in false alarms or missed detections, leading to potential life-threatening situations due to their limited range of pressure characteristic coverage and susceptibility to false alarms.

Innovation Solution

A multi-unit system that combines multiple evaluation and monitoring units to generate a combined error signal, using condition parameters like venous and arterial blood pressure, hematocrit, and other fluid-mechanical parameters, with weighted error signals and advanced models like polynomial regression and exponentially weighted moving average to enhance detection reliability and reduce false alarms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single method or monitoring system based on sensor values is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of error detection decreases due to limited coverage of pressure characteristics and susceptibility to false alarms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection reliabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is segmented into multiple independent monitoring units, each specializing in detecting specific types of errors (e.g., needle disconnection, air bubbles, clotting) using different sensor value patterns and evaluation criteria. This segmentation allows each unit to excel at its specific detection task while collectively providing comprehensive error detection coverage, thereby improving reliability without requiring a single overly complex system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The error detection system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various types of errors through a unified architecture. Multiple monitoring units with different evaluation criteria work together within a single system, enabling it to detect diverse error conditions (needle disconnection, air bubbles, clotting, etc.) using the same basic structure of sensor input, evaluation, and alarm output, thus improving reliability while maintaining reasonable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple evaluation units with different criteria are used, then the reliability of error detection improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection reliabilityVSAvoidevaluation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation system is divided into multiple independent evaluation units, each with its own evaluation criteria tailored to specific error types. For example, one unit evaluates pressure patterns for needle disconnection while another evaluates flow patterns for clotting detection. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall reliability while keeping individual unit complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple evaluation units with different criteria are merged into a unified error detection system. The results from various evaluation units are combined through logical operations (e.g., OR logic for alarm triggering), allowing the system to leverage diverse evaluation criteria for improved reliability while managing complexity through systematic integration rather than ad hoc combinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If monitoring based on limited pressure characteristics is used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to inability to cover wide range of error characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection reliabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring function is segmented into multiple specialized monitoring units, each configured to detect specific error types based on distinct sensor value patterns. This segmentation enables comprehensive coverage of various error characteristics (pressure changes, flow changes, air bubble detection) while maintaining operational simplicity through automated pattern recognition and evaluation in each unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system performs self-service through automated evaluation and interpretation of sensor data across multiple units. Each monitoring unit independently evaluates its specific parameters and triggers alarms when error conditions are detected, eliminating the need for manual configuration or interpretation by operators, thus maintaining ease of operation while achieving high reliability through comprehensive monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2913071B1Device for detecting an error in extracorporeal blood circulation
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 B BRAUN AVITUM
  • EP2913071B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2913071B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2913071B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a system for detecting a fault in the extracorporeal blood circuit of a dialysis machine, wherein at least one state parameter is acquired, a first evaluation criterion for detecting a fault in the extracorporeal blood circuit (FEB) is determined, a decision is made regarding the presence of a fault in the extracorporeal blood circuit using the first evaluation criterion, a first fault signal is generated, and the acquired state parameter is monitored, wherein at least one further evaluation criterion is determined, a decision is made regarding the presence of a fault in the extracorporeal blood circuit using the at least one further evaluation criterion, at least one further fault signal is generated, the first fault signal and the at least one further fault signal are combined to form a combined fault signal, and an alarm is triggered.when the combined error signal exceeds a predetermined limit.