Infusion Pump Bubble Detection Guide Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infusion pumps with horizontally passed infusion tubes often experience false bubble detection due to medicinal solution remaining at the narrowed flow path area, leading to erroneous readings by the bubble sensor.
Innovation Solution
The infusion pump design includes a bubble detection unit with a first member having an ultrasonic transmitting unit and a second member with an ultrasonic receiving unit, where the flow path is narrowed more downstream, creating a smaller second space to prevent solution stagnation and false detection, by integrating the projecting portion with the first member to reduce components and enhance accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the flow path is narrowed at the bubble sensor to detect bubbles, then bubble detection capability is improved, but medicinal solution remains at the narrowed area causing false detection
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the bubble sensor and the downstream area. The guide member has a guide portion that directs the liquid flow, preventing medicinal solution from remaining at the bubble sensor's narrowed flow path area while maintaining the narrowing effect for bubble detection. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by mediating between the need for flow path narrowing and the need to prevent liquid stagnation.
2Ease of operation
If the infusion tube is held horizontally to avoid obstruction when stacked, then ease of operation is improved, but medicinal solution may remain at the narrowed flow path area
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves as an intermediary that enables the horizontal configuration to work effectively. By introducing the guide portion, the system can maintain horizontal tube orientation for easy stacking while preventing liquid stagnation that would otherwise occur in this configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member introduces local quality changes to specific areas of the flow path. The guide portion is strategically positioned to affect only the local flow characteristics at the narrowed area, directing liquid flow in a specific manner without changing the overall horizontal configuration of the infusion tube.
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
This configuration prevents the bubble sensor from erroneously detecting liquid stagnant portions, ensuring accurate bubble detection and reducing false positives, thereby improving the reliability of infusion pump operations.
Implementation Method 1
The bubble sensor includes an ultrasonic transmitting unit and an ultrasonic receiving unit
Implementation Method 2
a second member disposed at the main body and having an ultrasonic receiving unit configured to receive ultrasonic from the ultrasonic transmitting unit
Data Source
AI summary
An infusion pump includes: a main body; a tube attachment section inside the main body; a liquid feed driving unit inside the main body; an access cover mounted on the main body and for covering the infusion tube when the infusion tube is attached to the tube attachment section when closed; and a bubble detection unit for detecting a bubble inside the infusion tube when the infusion tube is attached to the tube attachment section. The bubble detection unit includes a first member at the access cover and a second member at the main body.