Flow Reversing Device for Extracorporeal Blood Treatment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flow reversal devices for extracorporeal blood treatment systems are complex, prone to stagnation, and can cause clotting, and require cumbersome operation, limiting their efficiency and reliability.

Innovation Solution

A flow reversing device with a housing and selector body that allows easy switching between fluid communication configurations using a movable active portion within an internal chamber, facilitated by manual or automated actuators, ensuring minimal disruption to blood flow and preventing stagnation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional flow reversal devices are used, then flow inversion can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and operation becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into a housing and a selector body that can move independently between positions. The selector body contains an active portion that segments the internal chamber to create different fluid communication paths, allowing simple positional changes to reverse flow direction without complex valve mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the traditional valve approach by using a movable selector body that actively directs flow rather than fixed passages with moving flaps or pistons. The selector body moves between first and second positions to invert the flow path configuration, simplifying the mechanical structure while maintaining flow reversal capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If flow reversal devices are used, then flow inversion is possible, but stagnation and clotting occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidclotting

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device maintains continuous blood flow through the filtering unit during configuration switching. The selector body transitions between positions without interrupting the blood circulation loop, ensuring that blood continuously flows through the filter and does not stagnate, thereby preventing clotting while enabling flow inversion at the vascular access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If complex flow reversal systems are used, then flow inversion capability is achieved, but operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The selector body is designed to move dynamically between first and second positions along a predetermined path within the housing. This dynamic positioning allows rapid switching of flow configurations without manual reconnection or complex mechanical adjustments, reducing the time required to reverse flow direction and improving operational productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9067027B2Flow reversing device and fluid treatment apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.06.30 GAMBRO LUNDIA AB

AI summary

The invention relates to a multi-ports extracorporeal medical device (1) having a selector body (19) which can be linearly displaced within the housing (16) in order to create different flow paths and connection among the ports. The device can for instance be used for reversing the flow in an extracorporeal blood circuit.