Dual Channel Infusion Pump with Offset Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion pumps often fail to provide precisely controlled and consistent flow rates of intravenous fluids, leading to disruptions in medication delivery due to their pulse-based infusion mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A dual channel pumping mechanism with parallel operating segments, each comprising serially-aligned pumping elements, including upstream and downstream occluders and a plunger, coordinated by a processor to deliver fluids in offset timing patterns, ensuring continuous infusion by alternately filling and delivering fluids through a common conduit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single channel pumping mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the flow rate consistency and infusion continuity deteriorate due to pulse-based delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping mechanism is divided into multiple pumping segments (first pumping segment, second pumping segment) that operate in parallel. Each segment has its own pumping elements (occluders, plungers) that work independently but coordinate through timing patterns to provide continuous, consistent flow by alternately filling and delivering fluids through a common conduit.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple pumping segments operate with offset timing patterns so that while one segment is delivering fluid to the patient, another segment is filling its compressible channel. This overlapping operation eliminates idle time and ensures continuous fluid delivery without interruptions or pulses, achieving seamless infusion continuity.
2Reliability
If multiple pumping segments operate in parallel with offset timing, then the infusion continuity improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processor controls each pumping segment to operate in periodic cycles with offset timing patterns. Each segment follows a repeating sequence of filling and delivering phases, but the cycles are staggered so that segments are out of phase with each other. This periodic operation with time offsets ensures continuous infusion while maintaining manageable control logic through regular, predictable cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary that coordinates the timing patterns of multiple pumping segments. It manages the offset scheduling and switching between segments, translating the need for continuous flow into specific control signals for each segment's occluders and plungers, thereby simplifying the overall coordination complexity.
3Device complexity
If pulse-based infusion is used, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the medication delivery precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By operating multiple pumping segments in parallel with offset timing, the system eliminates the intermittent pulse-based delivery of simple single-channel pumps. The continuous overlapping operation of filling and delivering phases across multiple segments provides steady, precise flow rates without the flow rate variations inherent in pulsed delivery, thereby improving medication delivery precision.
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
This design ensures continuous and consistent fluid infusion, reducing disruptions and maintaining a stable medication delivery pattern, thereby improving the precision and reliability of intravenous fluid administration.
Implementation Method 1
each pumping segment including a group of serially-aligned pumping elements configured to compress an elongated compressible channel loaded within the pumping segment
Data Source
AI summary
An infusion pump includes first and pumping segments configured to operate in parallel with each other, each pumping segment including a group of serially-aligned pumping elements configured to compress an elongated compressible channel loaded within the pumping segment. Each group of serially aligned pumping elements of the multiple pumping segments is caused to pump according to respective timing patterns offset from each other to deliver a first fluid from a first compressible channel loaded in the first pumping segment to a common delivery tubing while filling a second compressible channel loaded in the second pumping segment with a second fluid, and to deliver the second fluid from second compressible channel to the common delivery conduit while filling the first compressible channel using the first pumping segment.