Fluid Filtration Security System with Unique Filter Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid filtration devices in healthcare settings face challenges in ensuring proper filter usage, preventing re-use, and maintaining effectiveness, as they lack a digital security system to track and manage filter usage and lifespan effectively.
Innovation Solution
A digitally-based security system that pairs filters with fluid handlers, using unique identification codes to log filter effectiveness, prevent re-use across devices, and enforce preprogrammed lifespan limits, ensuring exclusive use and tracking of filter performance data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a digital security system is implemented to track and manage filter usage, then filter security and effectiveness are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The security system is segmented into separate functional components: a processor that manages security functions, unique identification codes embedded in filters, and a database for storing filter information. This segmentation allows the security functionality to be added without requiring complete redesign of the filtration device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary database structure that mediates between the filtration device and the filter elements. The database stores unique identification codes and usage information, acting as an intermediary that enables tracking and management without direct complex interactions between all system components.
2Reliability
If unique identification codes and pairing mechanisms are implemented, then filter re-use prevention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-embedding unique identification codes into filter elements during manufacturing and pre-programming the pairing mechanism in the filtration device. This preliminary setup enables automatic recognition and pairing without requiring complex manual configuration or additional manufacturing steps at the point of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses unique identification codes as digital copies or fingerprints of each filter element. These codes are embedded in the filter and read by the filtration device to establish pairing, eliminating the need for physical tampering or complex mechanical identification systems.
3Measurement precision
If filter effectiveness logging and usage tracking are implemented, then filter performance monitoring is improved, but information storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and stores only the essential information needed for security and effectiveness tracking: unique identification codes, pairing status, and usage parameters. By taking out only the critical data elements rather than storing all possible filter information, the system minimizes storage requirements while maintaining necessary monitoring capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A security system for a fluid filtration device and, more particularly, a security system that is adapted to pair a filter with a fluid filtration device, log an effectiveness of each individually serialized filter, prevent re-usage of a filter in more than one filtration device and prevent usage of a filter for greater than its preprogrammed lifespan.