Integrated Dialyzer with Magnetic Pump for Blood Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood treatment systems for renal dysfunction, such as hemodialysis and hemofiltration, are complex and require extensive setup, leading to increased setup time, potential for human error, and higher costs due to the need for multiple components and lengthy extracorporeal tubing, which can result in increased exposure to foreign surfaces and biohazard waste.
Innovation Solution
A dialyzer system integrated with a magnetically driven and levitating pump rotor, along with pressure sensor chambers and a treatment module that consolidates multiple functionalities, reducing the number of required components and setup steps, and minimizing extracorporeal tubing length, thereby simplifying the process and enhancing blood treatment performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional blood treatment systems use multiple separate components and extensive extracorporeal tubing, then the system can perform blood filtration and purification functions, but the setup time increases and the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (dialyzer, pump, pressure sensors, deaeration chamber) into a single integrated dialyzer assembly. The pump is built directly into the dialyzer housing, pressure sensors are embedded in the end caps, and the deaeration chamber is integrated into the blood flow path, eliminating the need for separate external components and extensive tubing connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated dialyzer assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: blood filtration through hollow fibers, pressure monitoring via embedded transducers, deaeration through an integrated chamber, and pump-driven blood flow. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate devices needed and simplifies the overall system configuration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional systems use lengthy extracorporeal tubing, then blood can be transported through the system, but exposure to foreign surfaces and biohazard waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the pump, deaeration chamber, pressure sensors, and dialysis membranes into a single compact assembly, the patent eliminates the need for lengthy extracorporeal tubing that would be required to connect separate external components. Blood flows through a short internal pathway within the integrated unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the pump rotor is positioned within the dialyzer housing, pressure sensors are embedded within the end cap chambers, and the deaeration chamber is integrated into the blood flow path. This nesting minimizes the external footprint and reduces tubing requirements.
3Reliability
If conventional blood treatment systems use multiple separate components, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the potential for human error in assembly and setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single pre-assembled dialyzer unit with the pump, pressure sensors, and deaeration chamber built-in. This eliminates the complex assembly steps required to connect separate external components, reducing the potential for human error in setup and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump, pressure sensors, and deaeration chamber are pre-assembled and calibrated within the dialyzer housing before use. This preliminary integration ensures proper configuration and reduces the likelihood of assembly errors during actual blood treatment procedures.
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 and treatment module system reduces setup time, minimizes exposure to foreign surfaces, decreases biohazard waste, and lowers treatment costs by consolidating technologies and reducing the complexity of the blood treatment process, while maintaining effective blood filtration and purification.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetically driven and magnetically levitating pump rotor integrated into the dialyzer
Implementation Method 2
The transportation of the small molecular substances through the semi-permeable membrane is determined mainly by the differences in concentration between the dialysate and the blood
Implementation Method 3
dialysis that includes a semi-permeable membrane to separate the blood from a large volume of externally-supplied dialysis solution
Implementation Method 4
pressure sensor chambers with flexible membranous walls against which corresponding pressure transducers of the treatment modules can interface to detect arterial and/or venous pressures
Data Source
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.