Modular Wireless Syringe Sensor for Injection Parameter Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical simulators lack the ability to sense injection parameters such as volume, rate, and identity of simulated drugs, and are often closed systems that cannot be upgraded, making it costly and impractical for training facilities to add advanced drug injection training capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A modular, wireless drug injection sensor system that attaches to standard syringes, using optical measurement to detect the plunger position and transmit data on injection parameters, allowing for flexible and cost-effective integration with various training scenarios, including mannequin-based and field exercises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If medical simulators are built with integrated sensing systems to measure injection parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The injection sensing system is divided into separate modular components: an optical sensor module that attaches to the syringe barrel and a wireless transmitter module. This segmentation allows the sensing functionality to be added without complicating the core simulator system, as each component operates independently and can be attached only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A wireless communication module serves as an intermediary between the optical sensor on the syringe and the simulator control system. This intermediary transmits measurement data wirelessly, eliminating the need for direct physical integration or complex wiring between the syringe and simulator, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Reliability
If medical simulators are designed as closed systems with integrated components, then reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as upgrades become impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static closed architecture to a dynamic open architecture where the optical sensor module and wireless transmitter can be attached to or removed from standard syringes at will. This dynamic configuration allows the same simulator to adapt to different training scenarios and injection types without compromising the stability of the core simulation engine.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor module is designed with universal attachment mechanisms that work with standard syringe barrels regardless of manufacturer or type. This universality allows a single sensor design to serve multiple injection training purposes, enabling upgrades and adaptations without requiring simulator-specific custom components.
3Measurement precision
If advanced injection sensing capabilities are integrated into simulators, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases making it prohibitive for many facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor module is designed as a low-cost, disposable component that attaches to the syringe barrel. Instead of investing tens of thousands of dollars in upgrading the entire simulator system, facilities can purchase inexpensive sensor modules that are used once or a limited number of times and then discarded, making advanced measurement precision accessible at a fraction of the cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical flow meters and sensors integrated into simulators are replaced with optical sensing and wireless transmission technology. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical integration requirements and reduces manufacturing costs, as the optical modules can be produced independently using standardized components and assembled outside the simulator manufacturing process.
4Ease of operation
If RFID tags are used for drug identification, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates when multiple syringes are present due to inability to disambiguate tags
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor module provides continuous feedback about plunger position and fluid volume, which is transmitted wirelessly to the simulator control system. This feedback loop enables the system to track which specific syringe is being used in real-time based on the unique identifier associated with each sensor module, allowing accurate disambiguation even when multiple syringes are present, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and identification precision.
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
Provides quantitative feedback on injection performance, enabling improved training and assessment without the need for expensive simulator upgrades, and can be used in a wide range of healthcare training environments from controlled to uncontrolled settings.
Implementation Method 1
using optical measurement to detect the plunger position
Data Source
AI summary
A device for monitoring the position of a plunger member slidingly engaged with a main body of a syringe includes a housing structured to be selectively coupled to the main body in a readily removable manner and a monitoring system disposed at least partially on or in the housing. The monitoring system is structured to detect the absolute position of the plunger member with respect to the main body in a manner which does not require any mechanical linkage with the plunger member.