Medical Functional Unit Detection for Treatment Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical blood treatment devices lack a mechanism to ensure that the functional units used are suitable and compatible for the intended treatment, posing a risk to patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Innovation Solution

A medical treatment device equipped with a detection system that queries a specification feature on the functional unit, such as a color marking, to identify its function and suitability for the intended treatment, ensuring compatibility before proceeding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a detection device is added to query specification features of functional units, then patient safety and treatment reliability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment safetyVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection device queries the specification feature of the functional unit before the treatment procedure is initiated. This preliminary verification ensures that only compatible functional units are selected, preventing safety issues before they can occur during treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A detection device serves as an intermediary between the treatment device control unit and the functional unit. It reads specification features (such as color markings) on the functional unit and transmits this information to the control unit, enabling automated compatibility verification without requiring direct complex interaction between the control unit and functional unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If manual verification of functional unit suitability is required, then device complexity is reduced, but the risk of human error and treatment safety decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidtreatment safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection device provides automatic feedback to the control unit regarding the compatibility of the functional unit with the selected treatment procedure. The control unit receives information about the specification feature and can automatically prevent initiation of incompatible treatments, eliminating reliance on manual verification by healthcare providers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-verification by automatically detecting and verifying the compatibility of the functional unit with the treatment procedure. The detection device and control unit work together to ensure proper matching without requiring external manual intervention, thereby improving safety while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4137091B1Medical treatment device for performing a request for a specification feature of a medical function device
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4137091B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4137091B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4137091B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5A

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for querying a specification feature located in, on, or at a medical device functional unit, comprising the step of querying the specification feature by means of a medical treatment device functionally coupled or to be coupled to the medical device functional unit, or a device connected to or in signal transmission with the medical device functional unit. It further relates to a medical device functional unit, a medical treatment device, and a control unit. The present invention also relates to a digital storage medium, a computer program product, and a computer program.