Infusion System Flexible Heating Flow Path Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infusion systems face challenges in reducing internal pressure of the heating flow path, maintaining proper temperature control, and removing air bubbles without stopping infusion, particularly when infusion rates fluctuate, leading to potential overheating and hemolysis of blood derivatives.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a pump in the flow path connecting the air bubble removal chamber and the infusion unit, along with a control device that adjusts pump flow rates based on detected air bubbles and liquid levels to manage pressure and temperature, using a flexible heating flow path with a heat supply body to maintain efficient heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the blood derivative is fed to the heating flow path at high pressure by a pump, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the internal pressure of the heating flow path increases causing the heating flow path to expand and requiring additional pressing structure that increases device weight
Solution Approach 1:
The heating flow path uses a flexible tube that can dynamically adapt to pressure changes. The flexible material allows the tube to expand under pressure without requiring rigid pressing structures, enabling the system to maintain heating efficiency while avoiding additional weight from fixed support mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state parameters of the heating flow path by using a flexible tube with specific material properties. This allows the tube to deform elastically under pressure, maintaining sealing and contact with the heating device without requiring external pressing structures.
2Productivity
If the heating flow path wall surface is thinned to improve heating efficiency, then heat transfer is improved, but the pressure resistance decreases making it difficult to withstand high pump pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The heating flow path employs a flexible tube with a thin wall surface that maintains sufficient strength through elastic deformation. The flexible material allows the thin wall to withstand pressure through its ability to expand and contract, rather than requiring a thick rigid wall, thus maintaining both heating efficiency and pressure resistance.
3Productivity
If the heating flow path area is widened to improve heating efficiency, then heat transfer area increases, but the flexibility decreases making it difficult to maintain contact with the heating device
Solution Approach 1:
The heating flow path uses a flexible tube that maintains contact with the heating device through its elastic properties. The tube's flexibility allows it to conform to the heating device surface even when the flow path area is widened, ensuring continuous thermal contact while maintaining the expanded area for improved heating efficiency.
4Reliability
If air bubble removal chamber liquid level is lowered to improve air bubble removal, then air bubbles can be more effectively removed, but air bubbles may flow into the downstream and be injected into the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a liquid level sensor to continuously monitor the liquid level in the air bubble removal chamber and provides feedback to the control unit. When the liquid level drops below a predetermined threshold, the pump automatically stops, preventing air bubbles from being injected into the patient while maintaining effective air bubble removal when the liquid level is sufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically regulates its own operation based on liquid level conditions. The pump stops and starts automatically according to the liquid level in the air bubble removal chamber, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring safe operation without continuous monitoring.
5Productivity
If the pump flow rate is increased to maintain infusion amount, then the infusion rate increases, but heat accumulated in the peripheral part of the heating flow path transfers to the blood derivative causing excessive temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a temperature sensor to monitor the blood derivative temperature and provides feedback to the control unit. When the temperature approaches the upper limit, the control unit adjusts the pump flow rate or heating power to prevent excessive temperature increase, maintaining safe temperature levels even at high infusion rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically regulates temperature and flow rate based on real-time monitoring. The control unit adjusts the pump operation and heating based on temperature sensor feedback, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and ensuring temperature safety across varying infusion rates.
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 decreases internal pressure, allows for precise temperature control, and effectively removes air bubbles without interrupting infusion, preventing overheating and hemolysis of blood derivatives.
Implementation Method 1
a heat supply body that contacts the heating flow path to supply heat to the heating flow path
Implementation Method 2
a first pump provided in the first flow path; and a second pump provided in the third flow path
Implementation Method 3
an air bubble removal chamber that removes air bubbles in the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an infusion system including: a liquid container that accommodates a blood derivative; a heating device that heats the blood derivative; an air bubble removal chamber that removes air bubbles in the blood derivative; a first flow path that connects the liquid container and the heating device to each other; a second flow path that connects the heating device and the air bubble removal chamber to each other; a third flow path that connects the air bubble removal chamber and an infusion unit to each other; a fourth flow path that connects the air bubble removal chamber and the liquid container to each other; a first pump provided in the first flow path; and a second pump provided in the third flow path. The heating device has a heating flow path where the blood derivative flows and a heat supply body that contacts the heating flow path.