KVO Infusion Flow Control With Adjustable Rate Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gravity IV infusion sets lack a way to easily set a specific Keep Vein Open (KVO) rate, leading to occlusions and increased clinician time and costs due to clotting, drug precipitates, and potential infections.
Innovation Solution
A KVO infusion flow control device with a flow controller and flow control orifice that allows rapid setting of KVO rates without interacting with other IV set components, maintaining fluid flow and reducing occlusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If typical flushing and locking methods are used to prevent catheter occlusion, then catheter occlusion is reduced, but clinician time and in-patient costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The IV infusion set performs self-maintenance by automatically maintaining fluid flow through the catheter at a KVO rate without requiring clinician intervention for flushing or locking. The system uses a flow control orifice and adjustable flow controller to continuously prevent occlusion, eliminating the need for manual flushing procedures that consume clinician time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device establishes fluid flow at a KVO rate from the beginning of IV infusion, proactively preventing occlusion before it occurs rather than reacting to occlusion events. The flow control orifice is pre-configured to maintain minimum flow, and the adjustable flow controller continuously monitors and regulates flow to prevent catheter blockage before it happens.
2Reliability
If typical flushing and locking methods are used to prevent catheter occlusion, then catheter occlusion is reduced, but in-patient costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The IV infusion set performs self-maintenance by automatically maintaining fluid flow through the catheter at a KVO rate without requiring clinician intervention for flushing or locking. The system uses a flow control orifice and adjustable flow controller to continuously prevent occlusion, eliminating the need for manual flushing procedures that consume clinician time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device eliminates the need for repeated flushing and locking procedures that waste medical resources. By continuously maintaining KVO flow through the flow control orifice and adjustable flow controller, the system prevents occlusion without requiring periodic intervention, thereby reducing consumption of flush solutions, medications, and clinician time.
3Device complexity
If gravity IV infusion sets are used without KVO rate setting capability, then device simplicity is maintained, but occlusion risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control orifice and adjustable flow controller are integrated directly into the IV infusion set body, combining the flow control function with the existing gravity infusion mechanism. This merging allows KVO rate setting without adding separate external devices, maintaining relative simplicity while improving flow consistency and preventing occlusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the flow rate parameter from uncontrolled gravity flow to controlled KVO flow by introducing the flow control orifice and adjustable flow controller. This parameter modification enables precise control of fluid flow rate while maintaining the simplicity of the gravity infusion setup, preventing occlusion through optimized flow parameters.
4Ease of operation
If KVO rate is not maintained, then fluid flow control is simplified, but risk of blood clots and infection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IV infusion set performs self-maintenance by automatically maintaining fluid flow through the catheter at a KVO rate without requiring clinician intervention for flushing or locking. The system uses a flow control orifice and adjustable flow controller to continuously prevent occlusion, eliminating the need for manual flushing procedures that consume clinician time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device maintains continuous fluid flow at a KVO rate through the flow control orifice and adjustable flow controller, ensuring the IV line remains patent and free of clots and precipitates. This continuous action prevents the formation of harmful deposits and maintains sterile conditions, reducing infection risk without requiring intermittent flushing 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 device simplifies KVO rate setting, reduces occlusions, maintains IV line functionality, and minimizes clinician interaction, thus reducing time and costs while minimizing blood clots and infection risks.
Implementation Method 1
the tube engagement portion having a narrower internal diameter than an internal diameter of the KVO flow tube, the tube engagement portion configured to provide a first restricted fluid flow rate from the KVO flow tube to the outlet tube connector
Data Source
AI summary
Keep vein open (KVO) infusion flow control devices are provided to include a full flow tube coupled at one end to an inlet tube connector and coupled at another end to an outlet tube connector, a KVO flow tube coupled at one end to the inlet tube connector and coupled at another end to the outlet tube connector, and a flow controller coupled to the full flow tube, wherein the KVO flow tube is configured to always provide some fluid flow. Additional KVO infusion control devices are also provided.