Dialysis Cleaning Nozzle Layout to Prevent Residual Liquid Drips

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dialysis machine setups face challenges in handling and cleaning concentrate containers, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns due to the weight and handling difficulties of concentrate containers, as well as issues with residual liquid causing deposits and contamination in connection points, which prolong treatment breaks and complicate the cleaning process.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device for dialysis machines featuring a base body with line elements and through holes that allow for fluidic connections to be made from above, preventing liquid from dripping onto the floor and into connection nozzles, and a system that enables the attachment of a concentrate bag during cleaning, ensuring safety and efficiency by facilitating the cleaning of connection nozzles and reducing handling time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If concentrate bags are connected from below on connection nozzles, then connection is simple, but residual liquid drips onto the floor and causes deposits on connection nozzles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection simplicityVSAvoidresidual liquid dripping and deposits
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional connection approach by connecting concentrate bags from above instead of from below. The connection nozzles are positioned on the upper side of the concentrate bag, allowing gravity to prevent residual liquid from dripping onto the floor and causing deposits on the connection nozzles, thereby eliminating the harmful effects while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If concentrate bags are manually handled and connected after each treatment, then individual concentrate selection is possible, but handling time increases and treatment breaks are prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcentrate selection flexibilityVSAvoidhandling time and treatment break duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal connection system where a single upper connection nozzle design can accommodate multiple different concentrate bags with varying contents and specifications. This multi-functional approach allows individual concentrate selection while standardizing the connection process, thereby reducing handling time and treatment breaks without sacrificing adaptability

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

3Loss of time

If connection nozzles are not cleaned between treatments, then cleaning time is reduced, but deposits from residual liquid damage sealing rings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning timeVSAvoidsealing ring integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates preliminary cleaning action into the connection process itself. The upper connection nozzle design and positioning are configured to minimize residual liquid accumulation, and the connection mechanism includes integrated cleaning features that perform preliminary cleaning before the next concentrate bag is connected, preventing deposits from forming and damaging sealing rings while minimizing dedicated cleaning time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4117748B1Cleaning device and system for a blood treatment system
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4117748B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP4117748B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP4117748B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9b

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleaning device having a main body (1) and a first and a second line element (2a, 2b) extending perpendicularly in the main body (1) from a first surface of the main body (1). In addition, the cleaning device has a first through-hole (3a), wherein the first through-hole (3a), at a first location of the first line element (2a) spaced apart from the first surface of the main body (1), extends to a first side face of the main body (1) different from the surface of the main body (1), and a first attachment element (31a) which extends from the main body (1) along the midline of the first through-hole (3a) from the first side face of the main body (1), such that the through-hole (3a) from the first side face of the main body (1) extends further through the first attachment element (31a).