Dialyzer Identification by Fill Volume and Pressure Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dialysis machines lack the ability to reliably identify and ensure the correct installation of a prescribed dialyzer type, leading to potential patient risks, device contamination, and blood loss due to incorrect setups or dialyzer usage.
Innovation Solution
A dialysis machine equipped with an evaluation device that compares measured filling amount and pressure with predefined characteristic curves or values to identify the dialyzer type, and optionally uses electrical resistance measurements to validate the correct dialyzer installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual setup and installation of dialyzer is performed without automated identification, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential incorrect dialyzer usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual verification and mechanical matching of dialyzer specifications with automated sensor-based detection systems. Pressure sensors, flow sensors, and optical sensors automatically detect dialyzer characteristics and verify compatibility, eliminating human error in identification while maintaining ease of operation through automated validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The dialyzer itself provides identification information through its physical properties (pressure characteristics, flow properties, optical properties) without requiring external barcodes or RFID tags. The system uses the dialyzer's inherent characteristics to self-identify and verify compatibility, simplifying the overall system while improving reliability.
2Reliability
If automated identification system with multiple sensors is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation device integrates multiple sensor types (pressure, flow, optical) into a single multi-functional unit that can detect various dialyzer characteristics simultaneously. This universal detector handles multiple verification tasks through one system, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines pressure sensing, flow sensing, and optical detection functions into an integrated evaluation system that processes multiple parameters together to verify dialyzer compatibility. By merging these functions into a coordinated system rather than separate independent systems, the overall complexity is reduced while maintaining comprehensive verification capability.
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
Ensures accurate identification of the dialyzer with a tolerance of ±2 ml, reducing patient safety risks, preventing device contamination, and ensuring compatibility across different machines and dialyzer types, including the use of old stocks.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure sensor is configured to measure the pressure in the dialyzer
Implementation Method 2
the filling volume sensor is configured to measure the filling volume of the dialyzer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dialysis machine having a dialyzate circuit and having a dialyzer, wherein the dialysis machine has an apparatus for identifying the dialyzer; wherein the apparatus has means for filling the dialyzer with fluid and has means for determining the filling amount of fluid that is filled into the dialyzer; and wherein the apparatus furthermore has means for determining the pressure that is characteristic for the pressure in the filled region of the dialyzer, wherein an evaluation device is provided that is configured to put the measured filling amount into relationship with the measured pressure and to compare it with a predefined characteristic curve or with a predefined characteristic value, with the evaluation device furthermore being configured to output a signal that depends on whether the relationship determined coincides with the predefined characteristic curve or with the predefined characteristic value.