Glucose Management in Dialysis via Scavenging and Binding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring and managing blood glucose levels during dialysis, such as hemodialysis, are inadequate as they often require manual sampling and do not allow for continuous or real-time adjustment of glucose levels, leading to fluctuations that can result in either hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia due to the dialysis process itself.
Innovation Solution
A dialysis system equipped with a glucose monitoring unit that continuously or intermittently measures blood glucose levels and adjusts them by diverting the blood to either a glucose scavenging unit or a glucose increasing unit, using glucose binding proteins, boronic acids, or boronic esters to maintain a predetermined glucose range, thereby preventing extreme glucose levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual blood glucose monitoring is used during dialysis, then the monitoring process is simple, but the glucose levels cannot be continuously monitored or adjusted in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors blood glucose levels and adjusts glucose concentration without requiring manual intervention. The glucose management system self-regulates by detecting glucose levels and automatically diverting blood to appropriate treatment circuits, eliminating the need for manual sampling and adjustment while maintaining continuous monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback control by monitoring blood glucose levels in real-time and using this information to automatically adjust the glucose concentration. The monitoring unit provides continuous data to the control system, which adjusts the glucose level by diverting blood to glucose-scavenging or glucose-increasing circuits based on the measured levels
2Device complexity
If no glucose adjustment during dialysis is performed, then the dialysis process is simple, but blood glucose levels fluctuate leading to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces intermediary circuits containing glucose-binding proteins that act as mediators to adjust blood glucose levels. When blood glucose levels are high, the system diverts blood to circuits with glucose-scavenging proteins; when levels are low, it diverts to circuits with glucose-releasing proteins, thereby stabilizing glucose levels without directly manipulating the blood
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the dialysis process by continuously monitoring blood glucose levels and automatically diverting blood flow to appropriate treatment circuits. The system transitions between different operational states (normal dialysis, glucose scavenging, glucose increasing) based on real-time glucose measurements, making the dialysis process adaptive rather than static
3Reliability
If continuous glucose monitoring and adjustment is implemented, then blood glucose levels are maintained within predetermined range, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines the glucose monitoring and adjustment functions into the existing dialysis apparatus. The glucose management system is integrated with the dialysis machine, sharing common components such as blood flow pathways, pumps, and control systems. This merging approach reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate standalone monitoring and adjustment devices
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
The system effectively maintains blood glucose levels within a predetermined range during dialysis, reducing the risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia by automatically adjusting glucose concentrations, ensuring safer and more stable patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a device for reducing the blood glucose concentration using a glucose binding protein
Implementation Method 2
The blood is directed to a glucose scavenging unit containing a glucose binding protein, boronic acid, boronic ester or mixture thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A process and apparatus are provided for managing and adjusting glucose levels in the blood of a patient during dialysis. The apparatus is a dialysis apparatus to treat patients with renal disease which includes a glucose scavenger to remove excess glucose from the blood before returning the blood to the patient and/or a device to increase blood glucose levels in the blood when the glucose level is below a threshold level. The glucose scavenger can include a glucose binding protein, boronic acid derivative, boronic ester derivative or mixture thereof bonded to the surface of a support such as a fiber bundle in a cartridge or the inner surface of tubing used in the apparatus.