Integrated Dialyzer with Maglev Pump Rotor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood treatment systems for renal dysfunction, such as hemodialysis and hemofiltration, are complex and require multiple setup steps, leading to increased setup time, potential for human error, and resource inefficiency, while also exposing patients to foreign surfaces and generating biohazard waste.
Innovation Solution
A dialyzer system integrated with a magnetically driven and levitating pump rotor, along with a deaeration chamber and pressure sensor chambers, that consolidates multiple functionalities into a single unit, reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the setup process, while minimizing extracorporeal circuit length and exposure to foreign surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate components are used in conventional blood treatment systems, then each component can perform its specific function, but the setup time increases and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (dialyzer, pump, deaeration chamber, pressure sensors) into a single integrated dialyzer assembly. The pump rotor is integrated directly into the dialyzer housing, and the deaeration chamber is incorporated as part of the same assembly, eliminating the need for separate connections and reducing setup time while maintaining all necessary functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated dialyzer assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: filtration through the dialyzer membrane, fluid pumping through the integrated pump rotor, air bubble removal through the deaeration chamber, and pressure monitoring through integrated sensors. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining comprehensive blood treatment capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used in conventional blood treatment systems, then each component can be optimized independently, but the number of setup steps increases and potential for human error increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the pump, deaeration chamber, and pressure sensors directly into the dialyzer assembly, the patent reduces the number of connection steps and potential error points. The integrated design ensures proper alignment and connection of all components, eliminating setup errors that could occur with separate component assembly while maintaining the ability to optimize each subsystem independently during the design phase.
3Adaptability or versatility
If longer extracorporeal circuits are used, then more components can be included, but patient exposure to foreign surfaces increases and biohazard waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated dialyzer assembly consolidates multiple functions into a single compact unit, significantly reducing the length of extracorporeal blood circuit tubing required. By incorporating the pump, deaeration chamber, and sensors directly into the dialyzer, the patent minimizes the external tubing and connections needed, thereby reducing patient exposure to foreign surfaces and the associated infection risk.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used, then system functionality is comprehensive, but device complexity increases and treatment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the pump rotor, deaeration chamber, pressure sensors, and dialyzer into a single unified assembly, reducing the overall system complexity. Instead of requiring separate mounting, connection, and calibration of multiple independent components, the integrated design simplifies the system architecture while maintaining comprehensive blood treatment functionality including filtration, pumping, air removal, and pressure monitoring.
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
The integrated dialyzer system reduces setup time, minimizes the risk of human error, decreases biohazard waste, and lowers treatment costs by streamlining the blood treatment process and reducing exposure to foreign surfaces, thereby enhancing patient safety and clinical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The upper portion of the housing is a flexible dome that can reconfigure between a first configuration and a second configuration, and wherein the internal space defined by the housing is larger when the flexible dome is in the second configuration as compared to when the flexible dome is in the first configuration
Implementation Method 2
dialyzer systems described herein can include a magnetically driven and magnetically levitating pump rotor integrated into the dialyzer
Implementation Method 3
treatment modules described herein that include a magnetic field-generating pump drive unit
Data Source
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AI summary
Dialyzer systems can consolidate multiple technologies and functionalities of blood treatment systems in a significantly integrated fashion. For example, this disclosure describes dialyzer systems that include a magnetically driven and magnetically levitating pump rotor integrated into the dialyzer. Such a dialyzer can be used with treatment modules that include a magnetic field-generating pump drive unit. In some embodiments, the dialyzers include pressure sensor chambers with flexible membranes with which corresponding pressure transducers of the treatment modules can interface to detect arterial and/or venous pressures.