Infusion Pump Operating Unit with Dedicated Concentration Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion pumps for Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) have complex operation, limited setting options, and poor accessibility, making it difficult to reliably and safely adjust target medication concentrations in real-time.
Innovation Solution
An infusion pump with a control unit featuring dedicated incrementation and decrementation controls for precise adjustment of target concentrations, along with a discharge control for reducing flow rates to zero, integrated into a user-friendly touch display interface, ensuring safe and controlled operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional menu-based control interfaces are used for setting target concentration, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation and adjustment speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into dedicated incrementing and decrementing control elements, each with a specific function. This segmentation allows direct adjustment of target concentration without navigating through complex menus, improving ease of operation while keeping each control element simple and intuitive.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that processes signals from the incrementing and decrementing control elements and automatically adjusts the target concentration accordingly. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the user interaction by providing direct control elements rather than requiring complex menu navigation.
2Ease of operation
If multiple control functions are integrated into a single interface, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for specific functions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different control elements are assigned to different functional areas on the operating unit. The incrementing and decrementing control elements are positioned in a readily accessible location, allowing operators to quickly adjust target concentration without searching through the entire interface. This local placement optimizes accessibility for the most frequently used functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed to handle multiple functions through a unified architecture that processes both incrementing and decrementing signals, as well as discharge commands. This multi-functional design achieves ease of operation for specific functions while maintaining a cohesive control unit structure.
3Productivity
If manual adjustment of target concentration is used, then the reliability of concentration setting is improved, but the productivity and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit provides feedback by displaying the current target concentration and monitoring the infusion parameters. This feedback mechanism ensures that manual adjustments through the incrementing and decrementing control elements are accurately reflected in the actual infusion, maintaining reliability while enabling quick response times.
Solution Approach 2:
The incrementing and decrementing control elements are pre-configured to adjust the target concentration in predetermined steps. This preliminary configuration allows operators to make quick adjustments without calculating the required changes, improving productivity while maintaining reliability through the pre-validated adjustment steps.
4Ease of operation
If complex menu-based settings are used for discharge control, then the device complexity is minimized, but the ease of operation and safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge control function is extracted as a separate, dedicated control element on the operating unit. This extraction allows discharge control to be operated independently and immediately, improving ease of operation and safety by providing direct access to the discharge function without navigating through complex menus or settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves as an intermediary that processes the discharge control element signal and automatically manages the reduction of target concentration to zero. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the discharge operation while maintaining a systematic control system architecture that ensures safe and controlled infusion termination.
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
Enables quick and reliable adjustment of target medication concentrations, reducing operator workload and minimizing errors, while ensuring safe and controlled infusion processes, particularly in anesthesia and sedation scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
an elon gated peristaltic pump unit (22) which is pivotably mounted on the housing (2)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
Infusion pump (1) comprising a housing (2), an operating unit (24), a drive unit (18) for delivering an infusion solution, and a control unit (12) configured for target-controlled infusion of an infusion solution through a patient port to a patient for setting a target concentration of an active substance or drug in the patient's body, wherein the operating unit (24) has an increment control element (30) for increasing the target concentration and a decrement control element (32) for decreasing the target concentration, wherein the control unit (12) is configured to increase the target concentration when the increment control element (30) is actuated and to decrease the target concentration when the decrement control element (32) is actuated, and/or wherein the operating unit (24) has an outlet control element (36) for reducing the target concentration to a predetermined value.in particular for emergence from anesthesia, in particular to zero, wherein the control unit (12) is configured to reduce a flow rate of the infusion solution associated with the target concentration, in particular gradually, in particular to zero, when the emergence control element (36) is actuated.