Microdrop Drip Chamber for Precise Low-Flow IV Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drip chambers in IV therapy systems face challenges in accurately measuring and delivering low flow rates, particularly for neonatal or diabetic patients, due to limitations in drop size and measurement precision, which can lead to significant treatment errors and require costly automated pumps.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a solid pin or wire drop former with a sharp tip, ultrasonic energizer, gas inlet port, or piezoelectric sensor to facilitate smaller drop sizes and precise flow rate measurement, along with a piezo electric sensor to count drops faster than the human eye can reliably detect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If IV fluid is allowed to flow freely down the outer surface of the drop former, then the IV fluid can be delivered to the patient, but bacteria can grow in the drip chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet port is extracted from the conventional position at the top of the drop former and repositioned to couple to the outer surface. This extraction allows the fluid to be introduced at a specific location that enables both flow delivery and bacterial prevention, separating the fluid introduction function from the potential contamination zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer surface of the drop former acts as an intermediary structure that receives IV fluid directly from the inlet port and channels it down to the container. This intermediary pathway allows controlled fluid delivery while preventing stagnation and bacterial growth by maintaining continuous flow along the defined surface path.
2Ease of operation
If the inlet port is positioned at the top of the drop former, then fluid can be introduced easily, but air bubbles can form and interfere with drop formation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of introducing fluid at the top and letting it flow down through the interior, the inlet port is inverted to couple to the outer surface, introducing fluid from the exterior surface. This inversion changes the fluid introduction pathway to eliminate air bubble formation while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet port is pre-positioned to couple to the outer surface at a location that prevents air bubble formation before fluid enters the chamber. This preliminary design configuration ensures that fluid introduction automatically prevents air bubble interference with drop formation.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a larger drip chamber is used to hold more IV fluid, then the therapy duration can be extended, but the device complexity and potential for contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid storage and flow path are transitioned from a three-dimensional bulk chamber to a two-dimensional surface flow path along the outer surface. This dimensional change allows extended therapy duration through continuous surface flow while reducing complexity and contamination risk compared to larger bulk chambers.
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
Enables accurate metering of low flow rates and precise flow rate measurements without the need for automated pumps, reducing costs and complexity while ensuring treatment accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The inlet port is coupled to the outer surface to permit the IV fluid to descend down the outer surface
Data Source
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AI summary
A disclosed drip chamber for an intravenous (IV) therapy system includes a container configured to hold an IV fluid, a drop former suspended over the container, and an inlet port disposed above the drop former and configured to receive the IV fluid from a reservoir. The drop former has an upper end, a lower tip, and an outer surface extending between the upper end and the lower tip. The inlet port is coupled to the outer surface to permit the IV fluid to descend down the outer surface.