Medicament Mixing With Temperature-Compensated Conductivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medicament preparation systems face challenges in ensuring uniform mixing and accurate concentration control, particularly in continuous fluid preparation, leading to potential variations and inefficiencies in medicament production.

Innovation Solution

A system and method involving concurrent mixing of water and concentrate in a mixing container, followed by temperature-compensated conductivity measurements and controlled dilution, ensures uniform mixing and precise concentration adjustment, using a controller to manage fluid flow and valves to achieve a ready-to-use medicament.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If continuous fluid preparation and proportioning is employed, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to potential variations in medicament concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedicament preparation efficiencyVSAvoidmedicament concentration uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic reciprocating motion of the pump to create alternating filling and emptying phases in the mixing chamber, which enhances mixing efficiency while maintaining continuous operation. This periodic action ensures uniform concentration distribution without sacrificing preparation speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates sensors to monitor medicament concentration in real-time and provides feedback to the control unit, which adjusts pump parameters to maintain precise concentration control during continuous preparation operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If batch medicament preparation is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to longer preparation time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedicament concentration accuracyVSAvoidmedicament preparation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous preparation of medicament batches without interruption, where the mixing chamber continuously receives concentrate and diluent while being periodically agitated. This eliminates idle time between batches while maintaining precise concentration control through continuous monitoring and adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If rapid mixing is implemented to reduce preparation time, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to insufficient mixing uniformity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing speedVSAvoidconcentration uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pump operates in periodic reciprocating cycles, rapidly filling and emptying the mixing chamber multiple times. This periodic action creates intense mixing action that achieves uniform concentration distribution quickly, maintaining both high mixing speed and precise concentration uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 solution ensures rapid and accurate mixing with reduced time and variation, achieving consistent medicament concentration within safe medical ranges, thereby improving the quality and reliability of medicament production.

Implementation Method 1

A peristaltic pump is known to be employed in dialysis and other medical applications

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeristalsis: Peristalsis

Implementation Method 2

Flow through the drain line 115 has a temperature sensor 120 and a conductivity sensor 131 to permit the acquisition by the controller 155 of a temperature-compensated conductivity measurement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

Flow through the drain line 115 has a temperature sensor 120 and a conductivity sensor 131 to permit the acquisition by the controller 155 of a temperature-compensated conductivity measurement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature measurement:

Implementation Method 4

A check valve 114 with a predefined cracking pressure creates a back pressure which is overcome by the peristaltic pump 110 and the water pump 129

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBack pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3972668B1Medicament preparation devices, methods, and systems
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 NXSTAGE MEDICAL INC
  • EP3972668B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3972668B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3972668B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for mixing a batch of medicament has a pump actuator, control valve actuators, a source of concentrate, and a purified water source, all connected by a fluid circuit. A controller controls various control valves to open fluid channels from the source of concentrate and from the purified water source to connect a junction of the fluid circuit to the concentrate container and the purified water source. The controller also controls the pump actuator and a water pump to flow water and concentrate through the junction into a mixing container, such that the mixture of the concentrate and the water requires additional dilution to form a ready-to-use medicament. The controller samples the mixture and calculate an additional quantity of water to add based on the sampling.