Implantable Fluid Refill Timing Based on Expiration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implantable fluid delivery systems face challenges in determining optimal refill intervals for therapeutic fluids, as they often rely solely on fluid volume depletion, neglecting the stability time and clinical factors, which can lead to therapeutic efficacy issues and wastage due to prolonged storage beyond the recommended expiration time.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that calculates refill intervals based on both the volume of therapeutic fluid and its expiration time, using a processor to determine the appropriate fill volume and generate refill indications, ensuring the fluid is depleted before expiration and reducing wastage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If refill interval is determined solely by fluid volume depletion, then device complexity is reduced, but therapeutic efficacy deteriorates due to prolonged storage beyond expiration time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the expiration time-based refill interval and proactively generates refill indications before the fluid actually expires. This advance warning allows users to refill within the stable therapeutic window, preventing both efficacy loss and unnecessary refills.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the therapeutic fluid's expiration time and provides feedback through refill indications. This feedback mechanism alerts users when refilling is necessary based on temporal constraints rather than just volume depletion, ensuring the fluid is used within its stable therapeutic window.
2Productivity
If refill interval is extended to match fluid volume depletion, then productivity is improved by reducing refilling frequency, but loss of substance increases due to waste from prolonged storage
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and communicates the optimal refill timing based on expiration time before the fluid is actually needed. This preliminary warning prevents overfilling and ensures users refill at the precise moment when the fluid will expire, maximizing utilization while avoiding waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter used for refill determination from volume-only to a time-based parameter (expiration time). This parameter change allows the system to account for the temporal stability characteristics of the fluid, preventing waste by refilling exactly when the fluid will expire rather than relying solely on volume depletion rates.
3Device complexity
If fill volume is increased to extend refill interval, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of substance increases due to waste from unused fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of the optimal fill volume based on the fluid's expiration time and delivery rate. By calculating how long the fluid will last based on its stability window, the system provides guidance on the appropriate fill volume before refilling occurs, preventing both insufficient and excessive filling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback information about the fluid's expiration timeline and uses this feedback to guide volume management decisions. This feedback loop enables users to make informed decisions about appropriate fill volumes that match the fluid's stable therapeutic window, preventing waste from overfilling.
Data Source
AI summary
An expiration time of a therapeutic fluid delivered by an implantable fluid delivery device is employed to calculate a fill volume and determine a refill interval for the fluid. The expiration time of the therapeutic fluid may be based on or dictated by a stability time set by the manufacturer of the therapeutic fluid, a clinician treating a patient to whom the fluid is to be delivered, the manufacturer of the device delivering the fluid, or combinations thereof.