Intermittent Pump Control for Renal Therapy Fluid Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing renal replacement therapy (RRT) systems require active control of water sources, leading to elevated power consumption and mechanical wear, and necessitate synchronization between devices, reducing interoperability and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a first device with a fluid pump and control unit, and a second device with a container and control valve, where the first device intermittently activates its pump based on fluid pressure measurements to supply or draw medical fluid, allowing independent operation and reducing the need for synchronization and continuous pumping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the water source is actively controlled at all times to supply purified water, then the fluid generation device can operate continuously, but power consumption is elevated and mechanical wear of pumps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by controlling the water source pump to operate intermittently rather than continuously. The pump is activated only when the fluid generation device requires water, determined by monitoring fluid pressure or volume in the fluid line. This periodic operation maintains continuous productivity of the fluid generation device while significantly reducing power consumption and mechanical wear of the pump.
2Reliability
If communication interfaces are provided on water preparation device and fluid generation device for synchronization, then the devices can coordinate their operations, but cost increases and inter-operability between different manufacturers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the water source and fluid generation device to coordinate their operations without active communication interfaces. The fluid generation device autonomously monitors its own fluid pressure or volume and independently controls when to request water from the water source. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex synchronization protocols and communication hardware, reducing device complexity and improving inter-operability while maintaining reliable operation.
3Ease of operation
If pumps are installed in both water source and fluid generation device, then fluid can be actively controlled in both directions, but cost increases and mechanical wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the pump from the fluid generation device, retaining only the water source pump. The fluid generation device is designed to passively receive and process water from the water source without requiring its own pump. This reduction in the number of pumps lowers cost and mechanical wear while the remaining water source pump maintains sufficient control capability for the system's fluid flow requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a first device and a second device which establish a fluid path between a pump in the first device and a container in the second device through a valve in the second device. A control unit in the second device selectively operates the valve to open the fluid path. The second device is configured to supply a medical fluid by use of a first fluid received from the first device on the fluid path. A control unit in the first device measures fluid pressure in the fluid path and operates to, intermittently during operation of the second device, activate the pump to pump the first fluid into the fluid path and, when the fluid pressure in the fluid path indicates that the valve is closed, deactivate the pump. The first device is operable to replenish the container without being synchronized with the second device.