Fluid Concentration Measurement with Backflow Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In artificial dialysis apparatuses, backflow of blood can occur due to pump characteristics, leading to inaccurate measurement of blood concentration and flow volume when using light-based measurement techniques.
Innovation Solution
A fluid measuring apparatus that detects backflow by analyzing changes in reflected light intensity and corrects the measurement signals to accurately estimate fluid concentration, using a combination of light receiving elements, backflow detectors, and signal processing to differentiate between forward and backward fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light-based measurement is used to measure blood concentration and flow volume, then measurement capability is provided, but measurement accuracy deteriorates when backflow occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light measurement into two independent components: transmitted light measurement for concentration calculation and reflected light measurement for backflow detection. By separating these functions, the system can identify backflow conditions and exclude affected transmitted light measurements from concentration calculations, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy even when backflow occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reflected light as an intermediary indicator to detect backflow conditions. Instead of directly measuring backflow, the system uses reflected light intensity changes as a proxy signal to infer backflow occurrence, which then triggers exclusion of corresponding transmitted light measurements from concentration calculations
2Device complexity
If simple transmitted light measurement is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to backflow interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the reflected light detection system serve multiple functions: it detects backflow conditions and simultaneously provides timing information for excluding corrupted transmitted light measurements. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain simple transmitted light measurement while adding minimal complexity through the reflected light channel
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of backflow conditions using reflected light measurements before final concentration calculation. By detecting backflow in advance through reflected light changes, the system can pre-identify which transmitted light measurements should be excluded, preventing accuracy degradation before it occurs
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 apparatus effectively suppresses the influence of backflow on concentration measurement, ensuring accurate estimation of fluid concentration even during temporary backflow events, thereby improving the reliability of fluid measurement in artificial dialysis applications.
Implementation Method 1
A fluid measuring apparatus is provided with a light receiving device configured to receive scattered light
Implementation Method 2
there is known an apparatus configured to irradiate a fluid with light and to receive scattered light
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid measuring apparatus is provided with: an irradiating device configured to irradiate a fluid with light; a light receiving device configured to receive light scattered by the fluid; a detecting device configured to detect a backflow of the fluid on the basis of a received light signal of the light receiving device; and a calculating device configured to calculate estimated concentration information indicating a concentration of the fluid, on the basis of a detection result of the detecting device and the received light signal of the light receiving device. By this, even if the backflow temporarily occurs in the fluid, the fluid concentration can be accurately measured.