Modular Gas-Enrichment System with Automated Priming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional extracorporeal circuits for delivering oxygen-enriched blood are costly, complex, require skilled operators, and have limitations in achieving high oxygen partial pressures, leading to challenges in minimizing tissue injury during treatments like acute myocardial infarction and myocardial ischemia.
Innovation Solution
A gas-enrichment system with a detachable gas-enrichment device and controller that automates the enrichment process, reducing the need for skilled operators and minimizing bubble formation, featuring a smaller priming volume and integrated bubble detection for efficient oxygenation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional extracorporeal circuits are used for delivering oxygen-enriched blood, then oxygenation function is provided, but the system becomes costly and complex requiring skilled operators
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular components: a blood pump assembly, a gas-enrichment device with separable chambers, and a controller. The gas-enrichment device includes a first chamber for gas-physiologic fluid interaction and a second chamber for mixing, allowing independent optimization and simplification of each module while maintaining overall oxygenation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The controller automates the enrichment process by automatically controlling the blood pump assembly and gas-enrichment device operations. The system performs self-regulation of flow rates, pressures, and mixing parameters, eliminating the need for skilled operators to manually manage complex procedures
2Reliability
If conventional extracorporeal circuits are used, then oxygen delivery is achieved, but priming volume is large and anticoagulation therapy is required
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-enrichment device is segmented into separate chambers: a first chamber where gas dissolves into physiologic fluid, and a second chamber where gas-enriched fluid mixes with blood. This segmentation allows for optimized fluid pathways that minimize dead space and reduce the total priming volume required to establish therapeutic oxygen levels
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls and optimizes physical parameters including pressure, temperature, and flow rates within each chamber to maximize gas solubility and transfer efficiency. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves effective oxygen delivery with minimal priming fluid volumes
3Ease of operation
If manual operation is used, then system control is possible, but skilled operators are required and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves itself by automatically monitoring system parameters, regulating pump speeds, controlling gas flow rates, and adjusting mixing ratios. This self-regulating capability allows any operator to safely and effectively control the system without requiring specialized training, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining therapeutic efficacy
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 system enables automated and efficient delivery of high oxygen partial pressures to tissues, reducing tissue injury and operational complexities, while minimizing bubble formation and the need for anticoagulation therapy.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-enrichment chamber for enriching a physiologic fluid with the gas
Implementation Method 2
a mixing chamber for mixing the gas-enriched physiologic fluid with the bodily fluid of the patient
Data Source
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Figure 2B
AI summary
This invention discloses a modular system having a base module, a mid-section control module, and a display module for preparing and administering a gas-enriched bodily fluid. Gas-enrichment is achieved by a gas-enriching device which can be in the form of a disposable cartridge. During operation, the gas-enrichment device is placed in an enclosure within the control module to form a fluid pathway for extracorporeal circulation of the bodily fluid. An electronic controller manages the various aspects of the system and executes an automated method for priming the extracorporeal circuit.