Integrated Dialyzer with Magnetic Pump Rotor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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.
Innovation Solution
A dialyzer system integrated with a magnetically driven and levitating pump rotor, along with pressure sensor chambers, and a treatment module that generates dynamic magnetic fields to simplify setup and enhance blood treatment performance by consolidating multiple technologies into a single, compact unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional blood treatment systems use multiple separate components and lengthy extracorporeal tubing, then blood treatment function is provided, but setup time increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the pump, pressure sensors, and dialyzer into a single consolidated unit. The pump is positioned within the dialyzer housing, and pressure sensors are embedded in the housing structure, eliminating the need for separate external components and lengthy tubing connections, thereby reducing setup time and system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The dialyzer housing serves multiple functions: it contains the pump mechanism, houses pressure sensors for monitoring, provides fluid pathways, and supports the semi-permeable membrane. This multi-functional integration reduces the number of separate components needed in the blood treatment system
2Ease of operation
If conventional systems use multiple separate components, then blood treatment is achieved, but the number of components and setup steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump, pressure sensors, and dialyzer are merged into a single integrated assembly. The pump is positioned within the dialyzer housing with direct fluid communication, and pressure sensors are embedded in the housing, eliminating multiple separate components and simplifying the setup process
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional systems use lengthy extracorporeal tubing, then blood treatment function is provided, but treatment costs increase and hemolysis risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump and dialyzer are integrated into a single unit with direct fluid communication, eliminating the need for lengthy extracorporeal tubing. This reduces the surface area in contact with blood, thereby lowering hemolysis risk and treatment costs
4Ease of repair
If conventional systems use multiple separate components, then blood treatment is achieved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump, pressure sensors, and dialyzer are integrated into a single maintenanceable unit. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components that require individual maintenance, simplifying repair procedures and reducing overall maintenance requirements
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 solution reduces setup time, minimizes the length of extracorporeal tubing, lowers hemolysis risk, and decreases maintenance requirements, resulting in reduced treatment costs and improved patient care efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a pump impeller within the housing that is magnetically-drivable to force fluid through lumens of the hollow fibers
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
Diffuse mass transport is predominant in hemodialysis (HD)
Implementation Method 4
in hemofiltration (HF) convective mass transport through a membrane is used
Implementation Method 5
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.