Medical Instrument Cleaning Flow Measurement Using Gas Bubble Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments with channels, such as endoscopes, face challenges in ensuring effective fluid flow and hygiene due to issues with adapter connections and the inability to visually inspect inner channels, leading to potential blockages and inefficient cleaning processes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves introducing gas bubbles into the fluid line to determine the volume flow by measuring the speed of the bubbles using image processing, with illumination to enhance contrast, and applying particle image velocimetry to calculate the flow rate, allowing for efficient flow control and blockage detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ion velocity measurement is used to determine volumetric flow rate, then flow rate can be determined, but chemical components cannot be added and the process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Gas bubbles are introduced as intermediary markers to track fluid flow. Instead of measuring ion velocity directly or applying pressure, the system uses visible gas bubbles that move with the fluid flow, making the measurement process simpler and allowing chemical components to be added to the cleaning solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or chemical measurement systems (ion velocity measurement, pressure-based measurement) with an optical measurement system using image processing. Cameras capture images of gas bubbles, and software calculates their velocity to determine volumetric flow rate, simplifying the overall system.
2Measurement precision
If pressure-based flow measurement is used, then volumetric flow rate can be calculated, but the process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming pressure-based measurement with optical measurement using image processing. Gas bubbles are tracked through sequential images, and their velocity is calculated automatically by software, providing rapid volumetric flow rate determination without manual pressure measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies (images) of the gas bubbles at different time points and uses image processing to calculate velocity. This copying approach allows rapid, automated measurement without physical intervention or time-consuming manual procedures.
3Productivity
If adapters are used to connect fluid lines to channels, then fluid can be forced through channels, but connection errors and blockages may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by measuring the volumetric flow rate through gas bubble tracking and comparing it with reference values. This allows the system to detect connection errors, adapter misalignment, or channel blockages by monitoring flow rate deviations, providing real-time feedback on the reliability of the fluid delivery system.
4Measurement precision
If conventional flow measurement methods are used, then flow rate can be determined, but cost-effective and efficient measurement is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple, inexpensive gas bubbles as markers instead of complex measurement instruments. The gas bubbles can be introduced through a simple compressed air supply or pressure cylinder, making the system cost-effective while maintaining measurement precision through image processing and velocity calculation.
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 approach provides a cost-effective and efficient method for ensuring proper cleaning and disinfection by accurately determining volume flows with a measurement error of 10% or less, even at lower flow rates, and prevents residue buildup by using gas bubbles as markers.
Implementation Method 1
The velocity of the gas bubbles is determined by means of image processing of at least two temporally successive images of a section of the fluid line
Implementation Method 2
wherein light is shone onto the gas bubbles to increase contrast
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a preparation device (10) and a preparation device (10) for cleaning and disinfecting a medical instrument (11), wherein, for determining a volume flow of a preparation fluid in a fluid line (13) which guides the preparation fluid to a channel (12) of a medical instrument (11), gas bubbles (15) are introduced and the speed (u) of the gas bubbles (15) is determined.