Medical Temperature Sensor Ambient Correction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current hemodialysis systems face challenges in accurately controlling blood temperature due to skewed temperature readings from non-invasive infrared sensors, which can be affected by ambient air temperature and tubing properties, leading to patient discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A medical sensor assembly with a non-invasive fluid temperature sensor and an ambient air temperature sensor, integrated into a housing with a tubing slot, calculates a corrected medical fluid temperature using a look-up table or statistical analysis, ensuring accurate temperature control by accounting for ambient air and tubing effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a non-invasive infrared temperature sensor is used to detect blood temperature, then patient comfort is improved by avoiding invasive insertion, but temperature measurement precision deteriorates due to skew from ambient air temperature and tubing properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient comfortVSAvoidtemperature measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an ambient air temperature sensor and a correction algorithm as intermediaries to compensate for the skew caused by tubing properties. The system measures ambient air temperature and uses it to correct the non-invasive temperature reading, effectively mediating the measurement error without requiring invasive insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameters by introducing multiple temperature measurements (ambient air temperature and non-invasive fluid temperature) and using a correction algorithm to calculate a corrected temperature. This transforms a single inaccurate measurement into a corrected value that compensates for tubing and ambient effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If sensor assembly is integrated into housing with tubing slot, then device complexity is reduced by optimizing sensor placement, but manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper sensor positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidsensor placement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sensor assembly with the housing by integrating the non-invasive temperature sensor and ambient air temperature sensor into a single housing structure with a tubing slot. This combination reduces overall device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy through proper spatial arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specific tubing slot in the housing with optimized geometry and positioning. The slot is designed with specific dimensions and location to ensure the sensors are positioned at optimal distances from the tubing, balancing manufacturing feasibility with measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 provides more accurate blood temperature control, reducing patient discomfort by maintaining blood temperature within a desired range and optimizing sensor placement to minimize area and wiring usage.

Implementation Method 1

a non-invasive fluid temperature sensor mounted to the housing... The non-invasive fluid temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of medical fluid in the medical fluid line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

an ambient air temperature sensor mounted to the housing... detecting a temperature of ambient air using an ambient air temperature sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2701767B1Medical temperature sensors and related systems and methods
Publication Date: 2015.06.03 FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS INC
  • EP2701767B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2701767B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2701767B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This disclosure relates to medical temperature sensors and related systems and methods, in some aspects, a sensor assembly includes a non-invasive temperature sensor to detect a temperature of a medical fluid in a medical fluid line and an ambient temperature sensor to detect an ambient air temperature.