Optical Air Detection in Fluid Injector Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical fluid injectors face challenges in detecting and measuring air bubbles during high-pressure injections, which can lead to significant patient harm if air is inadvertently injected into the vascular system.
Innovation Solution
A fluid injector system equipped with proximal and distal sensors that emit and detect light through a fluid path section, allowing a processor to determine properties such as air presence, volume, and velocity based on signal differences, and halt the injection if excessive air is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light transmission through fluid path is used for air detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to sensor and processor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical air detection methods with optical measurement principles. Light sources and detectors are used to measure air bubbles in the fluid path, substituting complex mechanical sensing systems with a simpler optical field-based approach that provides precise measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
Light serves as an intermediary medium to detect air bubbles indirectly. Instead of direct mechanical contact with air bubbles, the system uses light transmission properties (absorption, scattering, refraction) as a mediator to infer the presence and characteristics of air in the fluid path.
2Reliability
If real-time air monitoring is implemented, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to potential injection interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors air content in real-time and provides feedback to the control system. When air bubbles are detected exceeding safe thresholds, the system automatically adjusts or halts the injection process, allowing timely intervention to prevent patient harm while minimizing overall procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
Air detection begins before the injection procedure starts and continues throughout, enabling preliminary identification and removal of air bubbles from the fluid path before they can cause harm during actual injection, thereby preventing rather than reacting to potential safety issues.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are added to fluid path, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid path is divided into multiple monitoring zones with sensors positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the system to detect air bubbles at various stages of the fluid path, providing precise spatial information about air presence while using multiple simpler sensor units rather than one complex sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting air presence, measuring air volume, determining bubble size distribution, and monitoring temporal characteristics. This multi-functionality is achieved through a unified optical detection platform rather than separate specialized sensors, reducing overall system complexity.
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
Effectively prevents the injection of harmful air bubbles by accurately detecting and measuring air volumes in real-time, ensuring safer medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an emitter configured to emit light through the at least one fluid path section, and a detector configured to receive the light emitted through the at least one fluid path section
Implementation Method 2
at least one fluid path section in fluid communication with the at least one injector and having a predetermined index of refraction
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid injector system includes at least one injector for pressurizing and delivering at least one fluid from at least one fluid reservoir, at least one fluid path section in fluid communication with the at least one injector and having a predetermined index of refraction, and a first proximal sensor and a first distal sensor arranged along the at least one fluid path section. Each of the first proximal sensor and the first distal sensor includes an emitter configured to emit light through the at least one fluid path section, and a detector configured to receive the light emitted through the at least one fluid path section and generate an electrical signal based on the received light. The fluid injector system further includes at least one processor programmed or configured to determine, based on a difference in the electrical signals generated by the first proximal sensor and the first distal sensor, at least one property of a content of the at least one fluid path section.