Multi-Parameter Infusion Controller for Automated Medication Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

During surgery, it is challenging to identify patients who benefit from volume loading, vasoactive, or inotropic agents to manage hypotension effectively, as current methods rely on single parameter measurements and lack automated systems for controlling fluid and medication administration, leading to difficulties in maintaining blood pressure and preventing organ failure.

Innovation Solution

A device with multiple actuators for administering medications, sensors for measuring multiple parameters, and a controller that considers dependencies between medications to automatically adjust their administration, allowing for complex interactions and optimal dosing based on real-time patient data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple medicaments are administered based on single parameter measurements, then medication administration can be simplified, but the accuracy of identifying patients who benefit from specific treatments decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedication administrationVSAvoidpatient status identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from single-parameter decision-making to multi-parameter evaluation by measuring at least two parameters (e.g., cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, blood pressure) and using their combinations to determine medicament administration. This dimensional expansion enables more accurate patient stratification while maintaining operational simplicity through automated controller decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If automated control of fluid and medication administration is implemented, then the duration of hypotension can be minimized and organ failure prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood pressure maintenanceVSAvoidcontrol system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple measurement functions (cardiac output monitoring, blood pressure measurement, systemic vascular resistance calculation) and multiple medication delivery functions into a single integrated device with a unified controller. This merging reduces the need for separate devices and manual coordination, achieving reliable automated control while managing complexity through integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors measured parameters and automatically adjusts medicament administration based on real-time patient status. This closed-loop feedback system ensures reliable blood pressure maintenance by dynamically responding to physiological changes, while the automated nature of the feedback reduces the complexity burden on operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If dependencies between medicaments are considered in the control algorithm, then optimal dosing can be achieved, but the complexity of the control algorithm increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedicament dosingVSAvoidcontrol algorithm
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is pre-programmed with knowledge of medicament interactions and dependency relationships before patient treatment begins. This preliminary configuration allows the system to automatically consider these dependencies during treatment without requiring complex real-time calculations, achieving precise dosing while managing algorithmic complexity through advance preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2131897B1Device for infusion of at least two medicaments
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 PHILIPS MEDIZIN SYST BOBLINGEN GMBH
  • EP2131897B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2131897B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2131897B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device for infusing of at least one medicament, comprising: at least two actuators for causing, that at least two medicaments will be infused; at least one sensor for measuring at least two parameters; a controller, that controls the actuator, the controller being programmed to activate the actuator depending on the values of the two parameters, wherein the controller is arranged for considering dependencies of medicaments.