Disposable Kit Light Shield for Dialysis Sensor

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood leak detectors in dialysis systems are prone to false alarms due to environmental light interference, and current solutions require manual steps or are not suitable for pre-assembled disposable kits, compromising usability and reliability.

Innovation Solution

A non-transparent light shield is integrated into the disposable kit to protect the optical sensor from environmental light, allowing for automatic protection and easy tube insertion without additional manual steps, using configurations such as elastomeric materials, coatings, or non-transparent stickers to absorb or block light.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sensor cover door is used to protect against environmental light, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity and manual operation steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light shield function is extracted from the sensor assembly and integrated into the disposable kit holder. This separates the protective function from the sensing function, allowing the sensor to remain simple while the holder provides the light shielding through its structural design and positioning of the tubing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The light shield structure is pre-configured in the disposable kit holder before use. The holder is designed with specific geometric features and positioning elements that automatically provide light shielding when the tubing is inserted, eliminating the need for manual cover operations during setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a cover door is used to protect the sensor, then environmental light interference is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual steps required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental light interferenceVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The disposable kit holder automatically provides light shielding through its inherent structural design when the tubing is inserted. The holder's geometry and positioning features self-adjust to provide protection without requiring manual cover operations, making the system self-sufficient and user-friendly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If a fixed tube integration is used in the sensor, then light protection is simplified, but adaptability deteriorates as disposable sets cannot be used

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight protection complexityVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The light protection function is segmented from the sensor assembly and placed in the disposable kit holder. This allows the sensor to maintain a simple, fixed design while the disposable holder provides the light shielding functionality, enabling both sensor integration and disposable set compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If multiple tubes are inserted manually one by one, then positioning precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidsetup speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple tube positioning functions are merged into a single holder structure. The holder is designed with multiple simultaneous positioning features that allow all tubes to be inserted and positioned in one operation, maintaining precision while dramatically reducing setup time compared to manual individual positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution provides reliable protection against environmental light, enabling automatic and efficient setup of the dialysis system, allowing multiple tubes to be inserted simultaneously, and maintaining usability advantages without the need for additional sensor covers.

Implementation Method 1

using configurations such as elastomeric materials, coatings, or non-transparent stickers to absorb or block light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS10617810B2Light shield for sensor and disposable kit provided therewith

Publication Date: 2020.04.14 B BRAUN AVITUM

AI summary

A light shield is arranged in a light shielding position with respect to a sensor or a blood leakage detector installed in a medical apparatus and monitoring for changes of transmittance in a translucent fluid carried in a tubing connected to the medical apparatus. The light shield has a non-transparent configuration and is configured to prevent environmental light from being incident on a relevant detection active sensor area. Further, a disposable kit for a medical apparatus which is arranged to be mounted to the medical apparatus and to carry pre-installed disposables to be used during a medical treatment comprises a hard-shell subassembly arranged to be positioned in a region of the medical apparatus in the vicinity of a detection active sensor area of a sensor which is sensitive to light and installed in the medical apparatus. At least one light shield element is selected from first to third light shield elements, and the at least one light shield element is mounted to the hard-shell subassembly of the disposable kit in a region where the detection active sensor area is underneath.