Dialysis Fluid Loop Control for Early Non-Physiological Fluid Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dialysis treatments are often interrupted due to pressure hold tests, which are performed to detect non-physiological fluids, leading to inefficiencies and potential health risks for patients, especially in time-critical dialysis centers.

Innovation Solution

A blood treatment device with a closed fluid system that only forms when specific conditions are met, using sensors to detect fluid properties and the position of connecting elements to prevent the formation of a closed system under abnormal conditions, thereby avoiding unnecessary pressure hold tests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pressure hold tests are performed to detect non-physiological fluids, then patient safety is improved, but treatment duration is increased due to interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidtreatment duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of non-physiological fluids using conductivity sensors and connecting element sensors before the pressure hold test is initiated. By detecting fluid properties and connecting element presence in advance, the system prevents unnecessary pressure hold tests from being performed, thereby maintaining patient safety while avoiding treatment interruptions caused by these tests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pressure hold tests are performed to ensure safety, then harmful factors are detected, but treatment efficiency deteriorates due to frequent interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-physiological fluid detectionVSAvoidtreatment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of non-physiological fluids using conductivity sensors and connecting element sensors before the pressure hold test is initiated. By detecting fluid properties and connecting element presence in advance, the system prevents unnecessary pressure hold tests from being performed, thereby maintaining the ability to detect harmful factors while avoiding treatment interruptions that reduce efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors fluid conductivity and connecting element presence during treatment, providing real-time feedback about the presence of non-physiological fluids. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect harmful factors without requiring periodic pressure hold tests, thereby maintaining treatment efficiency while ensuring safety through continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a closed fluid system is formed for pressure hold tests, then non-physiological fluids can be detected, but treatment interruptions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid system safetyVSAvoidtreatment interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of non-physiological fluids using conductivity sensors and connecting element sensors before the pressure hold test is initiated. By detecting fluid properties and connecting element presence in advance, the system prevents unnecessary pressure hold tests from being performed, thereby maintaining fluid system safety while avoiding treatment interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical pressure hold test with an electrical/conductivity-based detection method. Instead of forming a closed fluid system and applying pressure to detect non-physiological fluids, the system uses conductivity sensors to detect fluid properties electrically, thereby maintaining safety without requiring mechanical pressure testing that causes treatment interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Minimizes treatment interruptions and ensures patient safety by early detection of non-physiological fluids, preventing their pressurization and reducing the need for time-consuming flushing processes.

Implementation Method 1

a conductivity sensor is integrated into the dialysis fluid circuit to monitor the fluid's composition. If non-physiological fluid is detected by the conductivity sensor, it has already entered the dialysis fluid circuit.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4106833B1Controlling fluid flowing in a blood treatment device
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4106833B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4106833B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4106833B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a blood treatment device having the following: a fluid line system (10) for conveying a fluid flow, with a line portion (14), wherein the line portion (14) can be designed as a closed fluid system, and at least one first concentrate supply line (26) for supplying a first concentrate solution; a fluid pump (11) for delivering the fluid in the fluid line system (10), a determination means (13; 23; 33; 29) for detecting a state of the fluid line system (10); a control unit for controlling the fluid flow; characterized in that the control unit is configured in such a way that the line portion (14) forms a closed fluid system only when the state detected by the determination means (13; 23; 33; 29) satisfies a predefined condition.