Automated Blood Return in Extracorporeal Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current extracorporeal blood treatment systems face challenges in efficiently returning residual blood to the patient after treatment, leading to blood loss and potential exposure to hazardous medical waste, with manual processes being prone to errors and high pressures on the vascular system.
Innovation Solution
An extracorporeal blood treatment system utilizing a fluid pump to generate negative pressure in the arterial line set, coupled with pressure and optical sensors to control the blood reinfusion process, allowing for automated and precise return of residual blood without the need for external pumping mechanisms, reducing blood loss and operator risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual syringe actuation is used to return residual blood, then the process can be performed with simple equipment, but the operation is prone to errors and creates high pressure on the vascular system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual syringe actuation with an automated fluid pump system that uses electronic control to return residual blood. The pump system eliminates manual operation errors while maintaining controlled pressure delivery, improving both reliability and ease of operation through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing fluid pump and control mechanisms already present in the extracorporeal blood treatment system to return residual blood, rather than requiring separate manual equipment. The pump automatically detects when blood return is needed and executes the process using its own mechanisms.
2Productivity
If external pumping mechanisms are used to return blood, then blood can be returned to the patient, but the system complexity increases and air introduction risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid pump is designed to perform multiple functions: it circulates blood during the extracorporeal treatment and also returns residual blood to the patient after treatment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate external pumping mechanisms, reducing system complexity while maintaining blood return capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the blood circulation function and blood return function into a single integrated pump system. The same pump that drives blood through the dialyzer also returns residual blood to the patient, combining multiple operations into one unified mechanism that reduces overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If residual blood is not returned to the patient, then the system operation is simplified, but blood loss occurs and hazardous medical waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically initiates the blood return process immediately after the extracorporeal treatment concludes, before the lines are disconnected or discarded. The pump is activated to draw residual blood from the arterial and venous lines and return it to the patient, ensuring no blood is lost to the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the residual blood in the arterial and venous lines as hazardous waste, the system recovers and returns it to the patient. The pump draws the remaining blood from the lines and redirects it through the venous line back to the patient, preventing blood loss and reducing medical waste.
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 reduces blood loss by automating the blood reinfusion process, minimizing manual errors, and avoiding air introduction into the circulatory system, while simplifying operations and reducing the risk of high pressures on the patient.
Implementation Method 1
generating negative pressure in the arterial line set to draw residual blood toward the fluid pump engaged to the arterial line set
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensor to detect a value of pressure within the arterial line set
Implementation Method 3
an optical sensor to detect flow of blood through the venous line set
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating an extracorporeal blood treatment system to infuse blood into a patient at an end of an extracorporeal blood treatment includes clamping an access line of an arterial line set. The method further includes, after clamping the access line, initiating an operation to generate negative pressure in the arterial line set. The method further includes, after generating the negative pressure in the arterial line set, unclamping the access line to draw fluid in the access line further into the arterial line set in a direction away from an end of the access line that is connectable to an arterial access of the patient. The method further includes initiating an operation of a fluid pump engaged with the arterial line set such that the fluid in the arterial line set is infused into the patient through a venous line set.