Infusion Pump Multi-Core Controller Safeguards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infusion pumps lack effective control safeguards to prevent operator or system errors, especially when used by untrained users in home settings, which can lead to improper fluid delivery and potential overdose.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multiple interconnected controller cores, including a Pump Controller Core, a Supervisor Controller Core, and a User Interface Controller Core, that monitor each other's operations and can stop power flow to the pump motor if any core is behaving improperly, ensuring safe and proper infusion pump operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple interconnected controller cores are implemented to monitor each other, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is divided into multiple independent controller cores (first controller core, second controller core, third controller core), each responsible for specific monitoring functions. This segmentation allows each core to independently verify pump motor operations, thereby improving safety while maintaining manageable complexity through functional specialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The second controller core acts as an intermediary supervisor that monitors both the first and third controller cores. When improper behavior is detected in any core, the second controller core intermediates by stopping power flow to the pump motor. This intermediary structure enhances reliability through layered monitoring without requiring complete system redesign.
2Reliability
If multiple controller cores monitor each other's operations, then operator error prevention is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller cores perform self-monitoring and self-validation, where each core checks the operations of others and the system automatically responds to detected errors. This self-service mechanism prevents operator errors without requiring additional user intervention or complex operational procedures, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the Supervisor Controller Core stops power flow upon detecting improper behavior, then harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second controller core is pre-configured to stop power flow to the pump motor when improper behavior is detected in any controller core. This preliminary anti-action prevents potential overdose or harmful fluid delivery before they can occur, addressing the harmful factor proactively. The pre-established control logic minimizes the complexity increase by using straightforward stop-power-flow response rather than complex mitigation strategies.
Data Source
AI summary
Infusion pump control safeguards are provided by using multiple controller cores to ensure proper operation of an infusion pump. Each controller core controls specific operations of the pump and is interconnected with each other to monitor the operation of the other controller cores. The controller cores may include a pump controller core, the supervisor controller core, a System Controller Core, and a User Interface Controller Core. The Pump Controller Core is dedicated to control pump motor movement. No other controller core has direct access to the pump motor with a limited exception of the supervisor controller core, which can stop power flow to the pump motor in the event any one of the other controller cores is determined to be behaving improperly.