Therapeutic Foam Generating Structure for Consistent Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for producing therapeutic foam for intravenous administration of sclerosing agents in treating venous disorders face challenges in ensuring consistent quality and rapid production, as they often result in variable foam quality and require frequent preparation due to the short half-life of the foam, leading to inefficiencies and potential differences in foam properties during treatment.
Innovation Solution
A device with a continuous pathway where gas and liquid are immediately mixed within a foam generating structure, preventing pooling and ensuring consistent foam properties, allowing for continuous conditioning and efficient withdrawal of doses as needed, using a sealed hollow chamber with a foam generating structure comprising multiple elements to ensure thorough mixing and circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional batch mixing methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but foam quality consistency deteriorates and production speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous circulation system where gas and liquid are continuously mixed in a closed loop chamber, eliminating batch processing. The foam is continuously generated and circulated through the chamber, allowing immediate withdrawal of fresh foam doses without interruption, thereby achieving continuous production and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the foam itself to drive circulation through the chamber, with the foam's natural movement and bubble dynamics providing the mixing action. The continuous circulation is maintained by the foam's own properties and the closed-loop design, reducing the need for external pumping or complex mechanical mixing devices.
2Stability of the object's composition
If sealed chamber circulation is used, then foam quality consistency is improved, but liquid and gas pooling may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation chamber is divided into multiple zones with controlled flow paths, and the foam is circulated through multiple passes. This segmentation ensures thorough mixing by breaking up any potential pooling zones and distributing liquid and gas uniformly throughout the chamber, preventing separation while maintaining consistent foam properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic circulation patterns where foam is continuously generated, circulated through the chamber, and refreshed. This periodic movement ensures that liquid and gas are continuously mixed and redistributed, preventing pooling and maintaining reliable mixing effectiveness throughout the treatment procedure.
3Reliability
If frequent foam preparation is required, then foam freshness is maintained, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-mixes and pre-conditiones large volumes of foam within the closed circulation chamber before they are needed for administration. Foam is continuously generated and circulated in advance, so that when doses are required, fresh foam is already available for immediate withdrawal, eliminating the need for frequent on-demand preparation and reducing treatment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous circulation and generation of foam within the closed chamber maintains foam freshness throughout the entire treatment procedure. Foam is continuously renewed and circulated, ensuring that each dose withdrawn is fresh and consistent, eliminating the need for repeated preparation cycles and minimizing time loss.
4Ease of operation
If individual batch foam production is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but dose consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closed circulation chamber serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a mixing vessel, a conditioning chamber, a storage reservoir, and a circulation system. This multi-functionality achieves precise dose consistency through controlled environmental conditions and continuous mixing, while the overall system remains relatively simple as a single integrated unit rather than multiple separate devices.
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 device ensures rapid and efficient production of foam with consistent properties, minimizing delays and ensuring each dose has identical properties, thereby improving treatment efficiency and foam quality.
Implementation Method 1
The foam generating structure comprises more than one element, each element defining at least one passageway of cross sectional area 1μm2 to 10mm2
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The present invention discloses a foam generating structure (7) for use in a device (1) for mixing gas and liquid to generate therapeutic foam, comprising: two or more elements (8, 9, 10, 11) arranged in series, wherein each element (8, 9, 10, 11) defines at least one passageway of cross-sectional area 1 µm 2 to 10 mm 2; wherein the foam generating structure (7) is adapted to be placed within a continuous pathway (2), and wherein the foam generating structure (7) is adapted to be connected to a liquid pathway (5) for delivery of the liquid directly into the foam generating structure (7) between a first element (8) and a second element (9) of the two or more elements (8, 9, 10, 11) such that the gas and liquid first meet in the foam generating structure (7).