Extracorporeal Fluid Warming With Corrected Outlet Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid warming devices for extracorporeal blood treatment suffer from inaccurate temperature measurements at the outlet, particularly with contact sensors like thermistors and thermocouples, leading to unreliable temperature control and increased risk of hypothermia in patients.
Innovation Solution
A fluid warming device with an electronic control unit that corrects temperature measurements using an empirical model based on experimental data sets to account for measurement errors, ensuring accurate temperature control by adjusting heating power to maintain a set reference temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contact temperature sensors (thermistors or thermocouples) are used at the outlet of the fluid warming device, then the device can detect fluid temperature, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the temperature measurement error through the correction model and adjusting the heating power accordingly. The control unit receives the measured temperature, applies the correction model to determine the actual temperature, and uses this feedback to regulate the heating element, ensuring accurate temperature control despite sensor inaccuracies.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of temperature measurement by introducing a correction model that transforms the raw sensor reading into a corrected temperature value. The correction model adjusts the measured temperature based on experimentally determined error characteristics, effectively changing the measurement parameter from inaccurate sensor output to accurate corrected temperature.
2Productivity
If temperature measurement error is present at the outlet, then the fluid warming device can operate, but the patient temperature control deteriorates increasing hypothermia risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control to continuously monitor the corrected outlet temperature and adjust heating power to maintain the desired temperature. This feedback mechanism ensures that despite measurement errors in the raw sensor data, the actual patient temperature is controlled accurately, preventing hypothermia while maintaining treatment throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The correction model is pre-calculated based on experimental data sets collected during device operation. By performing the temperature correction calculation in advance using stored correction factors, the system can immediately compensate for measurement errors without delay, ensuring continuous accurate temperature control throughout the treatment process.
3Measurement precision
If empirical correction model is implemented, then temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a mathematical copy of the temperature measurement error characteristics through the correction model. Instead of physically modifying the sensor or adding complex hardware, the system uses a software-based correction model that replicates and compensates for the sensor's error patterns, achieving high accuracy without increasing physical device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces potential mechanical or hardware-based temperature correction mechanisms with a computational approach. The correction model uses mathematical calculations and algorithms to compensate for sensor errors, substituting complex physical correction systems with simpler software-based temperature adjustment computations.
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
Improves the accuracy and reliability of temperature measurement at the outlet, effectively preventing hypothermia in patients by maintaining optimal blood temperature during extracorporeal treatments.
Implementation Method 1
contact temperature sensors, like thermistors or thermocouples, at the outlet of the fluid warming device
Implementation Method 2
heating elements operatively active in the heating zone to heat the fluid warming path
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid warming device for an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, comprises: an outlet temperature sensor (31) operatively active at an outlet (22) of a fluid warming path (23) to detect a measured outlet temperature (To) of a fluid leaving the fluid warming device (18); an electronic control unit (29) operatively connected to the outlet temperature sensor (31). The electronic control unit (29) is configured to perform the following procedure: receiving, from the outlet temperature sensor (31) a signal correlated to a measured outlet temperature (To); correcting the measured outlet temperature (To) through a correction model to obtain an actual fluid outlet temperature (Tout); adjusting a heating power (Ph) of heating elements to keep the actual fluid outlet temperature (Tout) at a set reference temperature value (Tset). The correction model is an empirical model of a measurement error (E) derived from a plurality of experimental data sets, the measurement error (E) being a difference between the measured outlet temperature (To) and the actual fluid outlet temperature (Tout).