Multiple Valve Arrangement for Automated Infusion Bag Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for dosing infusion bags can only automatically process a limited number of components, requiring time-consuming container exchanges or manual injection for larger numbers, which is inefficient and poses safety risks due to incorrect dosing.

Innovation Solution

A device with a multiple valve arrangement featuring a tube arrangement with flow channels and valve bodies connected to protective tubes, allowing for the automatic filling of infusion bags with a larger number of components using processor-controlled dosing pumps, enabling up to 16 components with minimal software conversion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a limited number of components are processed using existing dosing devices, then the device complexity is reduced and operation is simplified, but the number of components that can be automatically dosed is limited, requiring time-consuming container exchanges or manual injection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of components dosed automaticallyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple drive units (first, second, third, fourth drive units), each capable of independently holding and dosing different containers. This segmentation allows simultaneous processing of multiple components without requiring container exchanges, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each drive unit is designed with universal functionality to hold and dose different types of containers (syringes, roller pumps, or other liquid transport devices). This multi-functionality enables the device to automatically dose a large number of different components simultaneously, significantly improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If container exchanges are performed during the filling process to handle more components, then the number of components that can be dosed increases, but the filling process becomes very time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of components dosed simultaneouslyVSAvoidfilling time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple containers with different components are pre-loaded into the respective drive units before the filling process begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming container exchanges during operation, allowing all components to be dosed simultaneously and significantly reducing total filling time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device enables continuous filling operation by having all required containers already in position within the drive units. The filling process can proceed without interruption or downtime for container exchanges, maintaining continuous useful action and maximizing productivity throughout the infusion bag filling process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If manual injection is used to inject smaller amounts of components, then the number of components can be increased, but safety problems arise due to incorrect dosing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of components dosedVSAvoiddosing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs automatic dosing of all components through processor-controlled drive units, eliminating the need for manual injection. Each drive unit automatically controls the dosing of its assigned container, ensuring consistent and accurate delivery of components without human intervention, thereby maintaining high reliability and dosing accuracy while increasing the number of components that can be processed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3406236B1Device for dosing infusion bags for medical use, and device for filling a plurality of empty containers
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 METALLFORM WERKZEUGBAU
  • EP3406236B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3406236B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3406236B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The object of the invention is to create a new device for dosing infusion bags for medical purposes, with which it is possible to use multi-dose pumps according to the prior art simultaneously for a significantly larger number of different components, and to create a simple device with which the largest possible number of empty containers can be filled from a larger storage container.The solution to the problem consists, firstly, in that at least in one drive unit a multiple valve arrangement for further component containers is detachably connected to the movement, and the multiple valve arrangement is connected to an infusion bag and a drive unit via a hose line, wherein the device for liquid transport is arranged in a further drive unit, and secondly, in that at least in one drive unit a multiple valve arrangement for further component containers is detachably connected to the movement, and the multiple valve arrangement is connected to numerous empty containers and a device for liquid transport via a hose line.