Optical Detection for Fluid Warming Bag Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid warming devices for extracorporeal blood treatment apparatuses face reliability issues in detecting the presence and correct positioning of disposable warming bags, often resulting in mechanical failures and bulkiness due to the use of mechanical switches and alignment-dependent presence detectors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a fluid warming device that utilizes the reflective properties of the warming bag to monitor its presence and orientation using electromagnetic transmitters and receivers, ensuring accurate and compact detection without mechanical parts, thereby enhancing reliability and reducing bulkiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical switches are used to detect the presence of the warming bag, then the detection function is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and reliability decreases due to mechanical failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical switches with optical detection systems. The presence detector uses optical sensors (such as light beams or reflective surfaces) to detect the warming bag's presence and positioning, eliminating moving mechanical parts that cause failures and bulkiness. This substitution maintains detection functionality while improving reliability and reducing device complexity.
2Reliability
If traditional presence detectors are used, then the presence of the warming bag can be detected, but alignment variability causes false signals especially when the warmer is opened and closed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces alignment-dependent mechanical or straight-line optical detectors with a reflective optical detection system. The detector uses reflective surfaces and angled light paths that remain effective even when the warmer is opened or closed, eliminating alignment variability issues and false signals while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If mechanical switches with moving parts are used, then the detection function is achieved, but mechanical failures and locking of moving parts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical switches with moving parts by implementing an optical detection system. This substitution removes the source of mechanical failures and locking issues, improving reliability and simplifying maintenance as there are no mechanical parts to wear out or lock up.
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
This solution improves the reliability and accuracy of detecting the presence and correct positioning of the warming bag, reducing the risk of mechanical failures and bulkiness, thus enhancing the overall performance and safety of extracorporeal blood treatment procedures by preventing hypothermia.
Implementation Method 1
The implementation of a fluid warming device that utilizes the reflective properties of the warming bag to monitor its presence and orientation using electromagnetic transmitters and receivers
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid temperature control device for an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, comprises: a casing (26) delimiting a heating/cooling seat (20) configured to accommodate a fluid warming bag (17) connected or connectable to an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus (1); heating elements (29, 30) operatively active in the heating seat (20) to heat the fluid warming bag (17); at least a presence detector (32, 33) operatively active in the heating seat (20) to detect the presence of the fluid warming bag (17). The presence detector (32, 33) comprises an electromagnetic transmitter (34) and an electromagnetic receiver (35). The electromagnetic receiver (35) is positioned with respect to the electromagnetic transmitter (34) either to receive an electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic transmitter (34) and reflected by the fluid warming bag (17) only when the fluid warming bag (17) is properly accommodated in the heating seat (20) or only when the fluid warming bag (17) is not properly accommodated in the heating seat (20).