Dialysis Circuit Microbubble Removal via Segmented Rinsing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microbubbles in extracorporeal blood circuits, particularly during dialysis, pose a risk due to their adherence to circuit surfaces and potential infusion into patients, as existing methods cannot effectively wash them out while a patient is connected, limiting the timing for bubble removal.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a rinsing liquid that enters through an arterial port and exits through a separate venous port, allowing for targeted flushing of the extracorporeal blood circuit's target area, which includes sections prone to gas bubble formation, using a distinct drain to manage microbubbles, and varying flow rates and pressures to enhance detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate drain is added to the extracorporeal blood circuit, then flexibility for washing out gas bubbles during treatment interruptions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extracorporeal blood circuit is segmented into functional zones with dedicated inlet and outlet ports. The circuit is divided into a blood treatment section and a rinsing section, allowing independent access for bubble removal without disrupting the entire system. This segmentation enables targeted washing of specific circuit segments while maintaining overall system integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A separate drain port acts as an intermediary element that provides dedicated access for rinsing liquid to exit the circuit. This intermediary component allows the rinsing function to be added without modifying the existing venous port functionality, thereby adding versatility while minimizing disruption to the original system architecture.
2Reliability
If rinsing liquid flows through the entire extracorporeal blood circuit, then comprehensive bubble removal is improved, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rinsing function is applied locally to specific high-risk segments of the extracorporeal circuit rather than requiring complete circuit flushing. The inlet and outlet ports are positioned to target areas prone to bubble formation (such as the dialyzer and pump sections), enabling effective bubble removal from critical zones without the need to process the entire circuit volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring complete circuit rinsing, the system performs partial rinsing of the target area containing the gas bubbles. This partial action is sufficient to remove bubbles from the blood stream while minimizing the volume of rinsing liquid required and reducing the time needed for the washing process.
3Productivity
If flow rate and pressure are increased to enhance microbubble detachment, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but risk of blood damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rinsing process uses periodic flow variations rather than continuous high-velocity flow. The system alternates between higher flow rates for bubble detachment and lower flow rates for gentle blood handling. This periodic action allows effective bubble removal during high-flow phases while protecting blood cells during low-flow phases, thereby achieving cleaning effectiveness without excessive blood damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The rinsing system dynamically adjusts flow rate and pressure parameters during the washing process. Flow rates are increased temporarily to generate shear forces for bubble detachment, then reduced to minimize mechanical stress on blood cells. This dynamic parameter adjustment optimizes the balance between cleaning effectiveness and blood integrity preservation.
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
Enables flexible timing for microbubble removal, including during treatment interruptions, effectively reducing their presence in the circuit and minimizing patient exposure, by allowing for targeted flushing and efficient detachment from circuit surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
Due to their small size and their low buoyancy, microbubbles can only be deposited to a limited extent in the venous chamber
Implementation Method 2
a rinsing liquid which enters a target area of the extracorporeal blood circuit through an inlet and which leaves the target area again through an outlet
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for washing out gas bubbles from a target area of an extracorporeal blood circuit of a dialysis machine, wherein a rinsing liquid flows through the target area, entering through an inlet into the target area and the same exiting through an outlet, wherein the inlet differs from the arterial port and the outlet differs from the venous port of the extracorporeal blood circuit. The invention further relates to a dialysis machine comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit and a control unit, wherein the extracorporeal blood circuit has an inlet and an outlet for rinsing fluid, wherein the inlet differs from the arterial port and the outlet differs from the venous port of the extracorporeal blood circuit, and wherein the control unit is designed to execute a method according to the invention. The invention further relates to a disposable for dialysis treatment, wherein the disposable comprises an arterial line, elements of a blood pump, a dialyzer and a venous line, wherein the disposable has an interface in the arterial line for the inlet of rinsing fluid and an interface in the venous line for the outlet of rinsing fluid, and wherein the interface for the inlet differs from the arterial port and the interface for the outlet differs from the venous port of the tube set.