Infusion Pump Final Preparation With ID-Based Programming and Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual production of infusion pumps is complex, time-consuming, and costly, with inconsistent results due to lack of necessary information at workstations, and requires separate functional testing and calibration by different personnel outside the production environment.

Innovation Solution

An automated final processing system with interconnected stations and a transport system, utilizing a unique identifier for each infusion pump to enable individual programming, configuration, and calibration, with a system controller managing the process and allowing for data exchange between pump control and system control via interfaces like infrared, WiFi, or Bluetooth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual production with successive workstations is used, then flexibility in manufacturing is maintained, but production complexity and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual production flexibilityVSAvoidproduction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate workstations (programming, configuration, functional testing, calibration) into an integrated automated production line where all operations are performed in sequence within a unified system, reducing overall process complexity while maintaining manufacturing flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated production line is designed as a universal system that can handle different infusion pump models and configurations through a single integrated platform, eliminating the need for separate manual workstations for each operation type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual configuration and programming are performed manually at each workstation, then customization is possible, but information availability and consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual configuration capabilityVSAvoidinformation availability at workstation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where the central control unit receives status information from each station, verifies data completeness, and automatically transmits necessary configuration information to subsequent workstations, ensuring information availability and consistency throughout the production process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A central control unit acts as an intermediary between all workstations, collecting, processing, and distributing information as needed, ensuring that each station receives the exact configuration data required for its specific operation without information loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If functional testing and calibration are performed outside production environment by field service team, then thorough testing is achieved, but production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting thoroughnessVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs functional testing and calibration as preliminary actions during the manufacturing process itself, before the product leaves the production environment. All necessary tests and calibrations are completed at dedicated stations within the production line, eliminating the need for separate post-production testing by field service teams

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Extent of automation

If automated final processing with unique identifier tracking is implemented, then individualization and automation are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated processing levelVSAvoidsystem control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each infusion pump is assigned a unique identifier that enables the system to automatically track, identify, and configure the specific device throughout the production process. The system uses this identifier to retrieve and apply the correct configuration parameters automatically, reducing the need for complex manual control while maintaining high automation levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4435510A1Method for automated final preparation of infusion pumps and associated final preparation system

Publication Date: 2024.09.25 B BRAUN MELSUNGEN AG

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for the automated final processing of identical or different infusion pumps (4) in a final processing system (2) with a plurality of stations (14) connected to one another via a transport system (16) for the infusion pumps (4) and designed for consecutive processing, and with a system controller (18) controlling the stations (14) and the transport system (16), wherein each infusion pump (4) has an integrated pump controller (6) with a programmable memory (8) for operating software and/or configuration data and is provided with a machine-readable unique identifier (10), wherein furthermore, one of the stations (14) is a programming station (22) in which the respective infusion pump (4) is programmed and/or individually configured with individual operating software assigned to its unique identifier (10).and • at least one of the stations (14) is a test and/or calibration station (24, 24', 24") continuously connected downstream of the programming station, in which the respective infusion pump (4) is subjected to an individual test and/or calibration assigned to its unique identifier (10).