Gravity Infusion System with Automated Roller Clamp Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravenous infusion systems, including IV pumps and gravity IVs, lack precision and real-time feedback, leading to potential inaccuracies in fluid delivery due to manufacturing variations and the need for manual adjustment by practitioners, which can result in suboptimal fluid flow rates and increased risk of human error.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop gravity infusion system that incorporates a drop counter, a processor, and a human-machine interface to automatically adjust the roller clamp position based on real-time fluid flow data, ensuring precise and accurate delivery of prescribed fluid dosages without the need for high-end equipment or dedicated peripherals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If infusion pumps are used to deliver precise fluid flow rates, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where a drop counter monitors actual fluid delivery and feeds real-time data back to a processor. The processor compares actual delivery against prescribed dosage and automatically adjusts the roller clamp position to correct any deviations, achieving precision without complex pump mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical pump systems with a simple gravity-based infusion system. Instead of using motorized pumps and valves, the system uses a roller clamp on standard IV tubing combined with automated optical monitoring and mechanical adjustment to achieve precise fluid delivery
2Reliability
If dedicated valve and pump disposables are used with infusion pumps, then fluid delivery reliability is improved, but ease of operation and adaptability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the roller clamp adjustment mechanism universal by designing it to work with standard IV tubing and connectors. The system can accommodate different IV bags, drip chambers, and tubing types without requiring dedicated disposables, as the roller clamp and adjustment mechanism serve multiple compatibility functions
3Ease of operation
If gravity IV systems with manual roller clamp adjustment are used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-correcting system where the drop counter continuously monitors actual fluid delivery and automatically triggers roller clamp adjustments without practitioner intervention. The system serves itself by detecting flow rate deviations and autonomously correcting them, eliminating manual adjustment errors while maintaining simple gravity-based operation
4Device complexity
If open-loop infusion systems are used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information and measurement precision worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent closes the control loop by implementing real-time optical monitoring with a drop counter that detects each fluid drop and provides continuous feedback to the processor. This feedback mechanism ensures no information loss about actual fluid delivery, allowing the system to detect and correct deviations from prescribed dosage
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 system provides a cost-effective and accurate method for delivering IV therapy by continuously monitoring and adjusting fluid flow rates, reducing human error and improving precision compared to traditional gravity IV systems, while allowing a single practitioner to manage multiple infusion devices remotely.
Implementation Method 1
a drop counter operatively engaged with a drip chamber of the fluid source, wherein the drop counter is configured to automatically count drops of fluid dripping from the fluid source into the drip chamber
Implementation Method 2
fluid drips from the bag into the drip chamber under force of gravity. The liquid then flows down the tube to the luer under force of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
An automated, closed-loop gravity infusion system including a fluid source, a drop counter operatively engaged with a drip chamber of the fluid source, a roller clamp functionally linked with the drop counter, a processor operably engaged with the roller clamp, and a human-machine interface (HMI) functionally linked with the processor. Patient data is accessed by the HMI. The system utilizes the patient data and data from the drop counter to determine an appropriate roller clamp position. The drop counter continuously monitors the drip chamber's drip rate and feeds the data to the processor which then analyzes the data and automatically adjusts the roller clamp's position to provide an appropriate fluid dosage to the patient. The HMI is functionally linked to a remote centralized computing system configured to simultaneously monitor several identical systems, each of which is being used to infuse a different patient.