Infusion Tube Heating and Thermal Flow Monitoring to Prevent Backflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current infusion fluid monitoring devices lack automatic heating and flow rate monitoring capabilities, making it difficult for healthcare staff to predict infusion end times and prevent blood backflow, while existing flow rate detection techniques are hindered by issues like lack of micro-particles and high costs.
Innovation Solution
An infusion liquid heating and flow-velocity-monitoring system utilizing dynamic heating, infrared temperature sensing, and automatic control to monitor infusion rates, automatically heat the fluid, and prevent blood backflow, connected via 5G, Bluetooth, or WIFI for remote monitoring, employing a dynamic thermal dispersion equation and Fourier series to determine average velocity in infusion tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If common ultrasonic Doppler flow sensing technique, laser Doppler Flow measurement technique, and magnetic inductive flow sensing technique are used for flow rate detection, then flow rate monitoring capability is improved, but cost increases and the techniques are unable to meet requirements due to lack of micro-particles in liquid infused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical and electromagnetic flow sensing techniques (ultrasonic Doppler, laser Doppler, magnetic inductive) with a simple thermal-based flow monitoring method. By measuring temperature changes in the infusion liquid caused by ambient heat transfer, the system determines flow rate without requiring micro-particles, expensive sensors, or complex signal processing, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary thermal model (Fourier series solution to dynamic thermal dispersion equation) that mediates between the physical phenomenon (heat transfer to flowing liquid) and the measurement goal (flow rate). This mathematical model allows accurate flow rate determination from temperature measurements without direct mechanical or electromagnetic interaction with the fluid, making the system both precise and manufacturable
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing infusion monitoring devices are used, then basic monitoring functions are provided, but automatic heating function and flow rate monitoring are lacking, making patients and health care staff unable to predict end time of infusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (heating control, flow rate monitoring, temperature sensing, and wireless communication) into a single integrated device that clips onto the infusion tube. By combining these functions in one unified system with shared processing and power resources, the device achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity, allowing patients to predict infusion end times while maintaining manageable system design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal infusion monitoring device that can perform multiple functions: heating the infusion liquid to comfortable temperatures, monitoring flow rate in real-time, tracking temperature, and communicating with mobile devices. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by providing comprehensive adaptability through a single versatile platform rather than multiple separate devices
3Temperature
If infrared temperature sensing and dynamic heating are used to heat infusion fluid to suitable constant temperature, then patient comfort is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical heating and temperature control systems with a simplified electronic control approach using infrared temperature sensing and electronic heating elements controlled by a microprocessor. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining precise temperature control, improving patient comfort without overly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where infrared temperature sensors continuously monitor the infusion liquid temperature and feed this information back to the control unit, which adjusts heating power accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism achieves precise constant temperature control with simple components, resolving the contradiction between temperature control quality and device complexity
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 effectively heats infusion fluids to body temperature, provides real-time velocity monitoring, automatically clips and closes the infusion tube to prevent backflow, and allows medical staff to adjust flow rates, enhancing patient comfort and operational efficiency with a low-cost, high-precision design.
Implementation Method 1
The dynamic heating module 1 consists of heating sources and a driving circuit for the heating sources... liquid in the infusion tube is heated by heat conduction so that a temperature of the liquid is increased quickly
Implementation Method 2
The point A and point B having a distance L therebetween are both provided with a thermopile infrared temperature sensor for synchronous measurement of TA (t) and TB(L,t)
Implementation Method 3
Based on principles of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and signals and systems, the present system provides a method of determining average velocity in a cross section of a tube according to a solution to Fourier series in a dynamic thermal dispersion equation of a steady flow in a cylindrical tube
Data Source
AI summary
An infusion liquid heating and flow-velocity-monitoring system for clinical use is provided. The system includes a dynamic heating module, a measurement and analysis module for average velocity in infusion tubes, a velocity adjustment module, an alarming and automatic clipping module, a mobile-phone-computer remote monitoring module, an operable shared module, and a micro control module. A method of determining average velocity on a cross section of a tube according to a solution to Fourier series in a dynamic thermal dispersion equation of a steady flow in the tube is provided. Moreover, functions including monitoring infusion rate, automatic heating, monitoring whether infusion fluid in the infusion tube is empty, and automatic clipping and closing of the tube for preventing blood backflow, etc. are achieved. Lastly, specific applications developed which is connected with mobile phones by 5G network, Bluetooth and WIFI are used to display status of the infusion fluid.