Fluid Chamber Fill Volume Detection Using Optical Interface Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid injection systems in medical procedures are prone to user error when determining the remaining volume of fluid, leading to incomplete injections and unnecessary diagnostic scans due to the difficulty in distinguishing between air and fluid, especially with clear or lightly tinted medical fluids.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a fluid control device with sensors, such as optical or ultrasonic devices, to monitor the fill volume of syringes and drip chambers, eliminating the need for manual input by calculating the remaining fluid volume based on the position of the liquid-gas interface and communicating this data to a user interface for display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual input of fluid volume is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to user error
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects and measures fluid volume in the syringe using optical sensors and image processing, eliminating the need for manual user input. The syringe itself provides the measurement data through its transparent plunger design, allowing the system to self-determine fluid volume without human intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between simplicity and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical input methods with an optical detection system. Optical sensors capture images of the syringe plunger, and image processing algorithms automatically calculate fluid volume based on the position of the plunger interface. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with optical and computational methods eliminates user error while maintaining system accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If clear or lightly tinted medical fluids are used, then ease of operation is improved for injection procedures, but difficulty of detecting and measuring worsens due to inability to distinguish air from fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the optical properties of clear medical fluids by implementing an optical detection system that measures light transmission and reflection characteristics. The system detects the liquid-gas interface by analyzing changes in optical density and refraction patterns, which differ between fluid and air phases. This allows accurate detection of fluid levels in transparent syringes without requiring colored indicators, maintaining both ease of operation and detection capability.
3Measurement precision
If automated sensor detection is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates an optical copy or image representation of the syringe plunger using standard digital imaging technology. By capturing a digital image of the transparent plunger and processing it through software algorithms, the system determines fluid volume without requiring specialized sensors or complex hardware. This copying approach uses readily available imaging components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement 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 solution accurately tracks the remaining fluid volume, preventing incomplete injections and reducing waste by ensuring adequate fluid is available for procedures, thus optimizing the efficiency of medical imaging processes.
Implementation Method 1
one or more optical sensors positioned relative to the drip chamber and in communication with at least one processor
Implementation Method 2
one or more sensors positioned relative to the at least one fluid chamber and configured to detect a position of a liquid-gas interface
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for determining the fill volume of a fluid chamber includes a fluid injector, at least one fluid chamber in fluid communication with the fluid injector, one or more sensors positioned relative to the at least one fluid chamber and configured to detect a position of a liquid-gas interface of the fluid contained in the at least one fluid chamber, and at least one processor in communication with the sensors and the fluid injector, and configured to: determine the position of the liquid-gas interface of the fluid, calculate the volume of fluid in the at least one fluid chamber based on the position of the liquid-gas interface, and at least one of: i) display the volume of the fluid; ii) enable the fluid injector to perform an action; and iii) disable the fluid injector from performing the action.