Drip Chamber Flow Control With Feedback-Regulated Gravity Infusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid delivery systems, particularly in medical settings, lack precise control and monitoring of fluid flow rates, especially when infusion pumps are not available, leading to inconsistencies in treatment efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a fluid flow meter, valve, and optional closed-loop configuration for monitoring, regulating, and controlling fluid flow, utilizing a drip chamber with features like a rotating arm, backlight, and image sensors to accurately measure and adjust flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gravity-fed line with manual valve is used for fluid delivery, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the flow rate control precision and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical valve system with an automated electronic control system. A flow sensor detects actual flow rate, and a motorized valve adjusts flow automatically based on feedback from the sensor, eliminating the need for manual counting and adjustment while achieving precise flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where a flow sensor continuously monitors the actual fluid flow rate and provides feedback to a controller. The controller compares the measured flow rate with the target flow rate and automatically adjusts the motorized valve to maintain accurate flow control, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.
2Measurement precision
If an infusion pump is used to achieve precise flow rate control, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pump function from the system, relying instead on gravity-fed flow. Only the essential components for precision control (flow sensor and motorized valve) are retained, eliminating the complexity of infusion pump mechanisms while maintaining flow rate precision through electronic control and feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-regulation through the feedback loop. The flow sensor continuously monitors flow rate and automatically triggers valve adjustments without external intervention, enabling the system to self-correct flow deviations and maintain precision without complex pump control mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If manual flow rate adjustment is used, then device complexity remains low, but reliability of flow rate adherence deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback monitoring where the flow sensor detects actual flow rate and automatically triggers valve adjustments when deviations are detected. This closed-loop system ensures reliable adherence to prescribed flow rates without requiring complex pump mechanisms, as the simple feedback-controlled valve system automatically corrects flow variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated electronic control system. The motorized valve responds to electronic signals from the controller based on sensor feedback, ensuring consistent and reliable flow rate control without the variability and error-proneness of manual adjustment, while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. An apparatus for infusing fluid into a patient includes a housing, a tube-contact member, a rotating arm, and a tube-retention cover. The housing has an opening on a front side of the housing. The opening is sized to receive a drip chamber having an inlet tube and an outlet tube. The tube-contact member contacts one of the inlet tube and the output tube of the drip chamber when inserted into the opening. The rotating arm is coupled to the tube-contact member and is configured to rotate along an axis. The tube-retention cover is configured to close when the drip chamber is initially loaded into the opening.