Dialysis Fluid Concentrate Supply Device for Multiple Treatment Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dialysis fluid concentrate solutions are inefficient as they require frequent handling and disposal of single-use bags, leading to waste and increased costs due to the inability to tailor fluid composition to individual patient needs and inefficient use of resources.
Innovation Solution
A device that provides a dialysis fluid concentrate in a container sufficient for multiple treatment cycles, allowing for automated handling and optimized resource use by calculating and managing concentrate quantities based on treatment parameters, reducing waste and handling steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If single-use concentrate bags are used for each dialysis treatment, then the dialysis fluid can be prepared for individual patients, but the handling complexity and waste increase due to frequent delivery and disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The concentrate is divided into multiple treatment cycles within a single container. The container includes separate compartments or a bulk concentrate reservoir that can supply multiple dialysis treatments sequentially, reducing the frequency of container replacement while maintaining the ability to customize fluid composition for each patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentrate container is pre-filled with sufficient concentrate for multiple treatment cycles before being connected to the dialysis machine. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for frequent deliveries and handling of individual single-use bags, reducing operational complexity and waste.
2Reliability
If single-use concentrate bags are used for each dialysis treatment, then contamination risk is reduced, but resource efficiency decreases due to disposal of unused concentrate
Solution Approach 1:
The concentrate container maintains a continuous supply of sterile concentrate throughout multiple treatment cycles. The system includes sterile barriers and closed-loop fluid pathways that prevent contamination while allowing the concentrate to be used continuously across multiple treatments, eliminating the need to discard unused concentrate from single-use bags.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to fully utilize the concentrate in the container across multiple treatment cycles. The control unit calculates and manages the concentrate usage to ensure complete consumption of the concentrate supply, recovering maximum value from each container while maintaining sterility through controlled delivery mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If centralized concentrate supply is used, then handling is simplified, but the ability to tailor dialysis fluid to individual patient needs is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The concentrate container serves multiple functions: it acts as a centralized supply that simplifies handling while simultaneously enabling individualized patient care. The control unit programs the delivery system to provide customized concentrate formulations for each patient based on their specific treatment requirements, making the single container adaptable to different patient needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the concentrate delivery parameters for each treatment cycle based on patient-specific requirements. The control unit modifies flow rates, concentrations, and delivery timing to tailor the dialysis fluid composition to individual patient needs while maintaining the simplified handling of a centralized concentrate supply.
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 simplifies handling, reduces production and transport costs, and optimizes resource use by allowing for tailored dialysis fluid composition, thereby enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of dialysis treatments.
Implementation Method 1
proportioning pumps (17, 18), in particular peristaltic proportioning pumps, which are connected to water lines (19) and concentrate lines (14, 16) and are metered by a computing and evaluation unit (24) such that the concentrates and water are mixed in a predetermined volume ratio
Implementation Method 2
proportioning pumps (17, 18), in particular peristaltic proportioning pumps
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for supplying dialysis liquid to a dialysis apparatus, and to a dialysis apparatus with a device for supplying the dialysis apparatus with dialysis liquid. For the production of dialysis liquid, a container 13 is provided which is filled with a powdered dialysis liquid concentrate K, wherein the quantity of the dialysis liquid concentrate contained in the container is such that the dialysis liquid concentrate permits the production of a quantity of dialysis liquid that is sufficient for a predefined number of dialysis treatments. The method according to the invention and the device according to the invention permit a comparison of the concentrate quantity K2 present in the container 13 and the planned usage quantity, which derives from the prescription by the physician and from the treatment parameters set on the machine. After the individual dialysis treatments have been performed, an ongoing check is made to ascertain whether the concentrate quantity is sufficient. It is possible to check whether the concentrate quantity is sufficient for the subsequent treatment or for all of the treatments still to be performed. If this is not the case, an alarm signal is generated. Otherwise, a control signal for initiating the next treatment cycle is generated.