IV Pump Mechanism Rebound Control for Flow Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IV pump mechanisms provide inaccurate and inconsistent flow rates due to the lack of proper rebounding of IV tubes, leading to variations in compression shapes and fluid volumes.
Innovation Solution
A pump mechanism with additional elements positioned along perpendicular axes to apply forces that allow the IV tube to return to its original state before compression, ensuring consistent flow rates, featuring a first element for compression and second and third elements for opposing forces to reshape and rebound the IV tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pump mechanism continuously compresses the IV set without allowing it to return to its original state, then the pumping action is maintained, but the flow rate becomes inaccurate and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The pump mechanism is divided into distinct functional elements: a compression element that compresses the IV set and a rebound element that allows the IV set to return to its original state. This segmentation enables independent optimization of compression and rebound functions, ensuring accurate flow rates while maintaining continuous pumping action.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump mechanism employs periodic compression and rebound cycles. The compression element compresses the IV set for a duration, then the rebound element allows the IV set to return to its original state before the next compression cycle. This periodic action ensures consistent flow rates by allowing the IV set to return to a known initial state between compression strokes.
2Productivity
If the pump mechanism compresses the IV set with varying shapes between compression strokes, then the pumping action continues, but the flow rate becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The rebound element performs a preliminary action by allowing the IV set to return to its original state before the next compression stroke. This preliminary rebound ensures that the IV set starts from a consistent, known initial state for each compression cycle, eliminating variations in compression shapes and ensuring accurate, consistent flow rates.
3Reliability
If additional elements are added to apply opposing forces for rebound, then the flow rate accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression and rebound functions are merged into a single integrated pump mechanism. The compression element and rebound element work together in a coordinated manner, where the rebound element is positioned to naturally receive the IV set after compression and apply the necessary rebound force. This merging approach achieves accurate flow rates while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 solution ensures accurate and consistent flow rates by synchronizing the compression and rebounding of IV tubes, improving the reliability of fluid delivery and reducing variations in flow rates regardless of tube characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
the second and third elements are configured to apply separate forces at opposite sides of the IV tube to cause the IV tube to return to its original (uncompressed) state
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes a body configured to receive and secure an IV tube that is configured to allow for the transportation of a fluid. The medical device includes a pump mechanism including a first element positioned along a first axis and configured to move in a first direction along the first axis to compress the IV tube. The pump mechanism includes a second element positioned along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and configured to move in a second direction along the second axis and perpendicular to the first direction to provide a force against a side of the IV tube. The pump mechanism includes a third element positioned along the second axis opposite the second element and configured to move in a third direction along the second axis opposite the second direction to provide a force against another side of the IV tube.