Infusion Pump Door Lock and Roller Clamp Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional infusion pumps face challenges in preventing free flow due to operational errors, such as incomplete closure or failure to lock the door, leading to excessive infusion liquid administration.

Innovation Solution

An infusion pump with a door lock mechanism and a roller movement mechanism that coordinates to ensure the roller clamp blocks or releases the infusion tube based on the door lock state, preventing free flow by maintaining the infusion tube in a blocked state unless intentionally released.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a roller clamp is used to block the infusion tube, then free flow can be prevented, but operational errors such as releasing the clamp by mistake or failing to block the tube before opening the door can still cause free flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefree flow preventionVSAvoidoperational error risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door lock mechanism and roller clamp control are merged into a single integrated system. When the door is locked, the roller clamp is automatically controlled to block the infusion tube. This integration ensures that the tube blocking function is coupled with the door lock state, eliminating the risk of operational errors where the clamp might be released by mistake or forgotten to be blocked before opening the door.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically controlling the roller clamp based on the door lock state. The control unit monitors whether the door is locked and automatically adjusts the roller clamp position accordingly, without requiring manual intervention from the operator. This self-service mechanism ensures consistent and reliable free flow prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the door is opened accidentally during infusion treatment, then access to the pump mechanism is gained, but free flow can occur if the roller clamp is not properly positioned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor accessibilityVSAvoidfree flow prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary action by automatically positioning the roller clamp to block the infusion tube when the door is in the locked state. This preliminary blocking action is performed before any potential accidental door opening, ensuring that even if the door is opened accidentally during infusion treatment, the roller clamp remains in the blocking position and prevents free flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the roller clamp is released before the door is closed, then infusion can start, but free flow occurs if the door closure is incomplete or the lock is not engaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinfusion start speedVSAvoidfree flow prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit implements feedback by continuously monitoring the door lock state and automatically adjusting the roller clamp position accordingly. When the door lock is engaged, the system receives feedback that the door is securely closed and automatically releases the roller clamp to allow infusion. This feedback mechanism ensures that the roller clamp is only released when the door lock is properly engaged, preventing free flow even if door closure is incomplete or the lock is not engaged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2716312B1Infusion pump
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 NIPRO CORP
  • EP2716312B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2716312B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2716312B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An infusion pump includes a pump body for holding a roller clamp 7, and a roller movement mechanism 3 for moving a roller 72 of the roller clamp 7 and operating in coordination with manipulation of a door lock mechanism. When the door lock mechanism is in an unlocked state, an infusion tube T is blocked by the roller clamp 72. This configuration reliably prevents free flow even if a door is not closed completely or if the door is accidentally left unlocked. After the finish of infusion treatment, the infusion tube T is blocked by the roller clamp 7 at the moment when the door lock mechanism is unlocked before the opening of the door. This configuration avoids a trouble of removing the infusion tube T from the infusion pump while a user forgets to block the infusion tube by the roller clamp 7.