Pass-through Fluid Volume Measurement in Surgical Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fluid management systems in medical procedures require frequent replacement of fluid collection canisters, disrupting procedures, causing errors, and increasing costs due to the need to suspend suction and manually handle full canisters, which complicates continuous fluid deficit monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A fluid management system with a pass-through fluid volume measurement system that continuously measures fluid returned from the surgical site using a combination of fluid collection containers, weight sensors, and a control unit to alternately fill and empty containers, eliminating the need for canister replacement during a procedure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fluid collection canisters are used to collect returned fluid during surgical procedures, then fluid volume can be measured by weight, but the canisters must be frequently removed and replaced when full, disrupting the procedure and causing monitoring interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid volume measurementVSAvoidprocedural continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid management system is divided into multiple independent fluid collection containers (first container, second container) that can be alternately used. While one container is being used for collection, another can be prepared or emptied, allowing continuous operation without procedural disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Empty fluid collection containers are prepared in advance before they are needed. The system pre-positions replacement containers so that when the current container becomes full, an empty one is already ready for immediate connection, eliminating delays and maintaining procedural continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If canisters are manually removed and replaced during surgery, then full canisters can be exchanged for empty ones, but this requires suspending suction and causes errors in fluid deficit monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid collection capacityVSAvoidfluid deficit monitoring accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous suction and fluid collection throughout the procedure by having multiple containers available. The automated switching between containers ensures that suction never needs to be suspended, and fluid deficit monitoring remains uninterrupted and accurate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary mechanism (automated valve system or quick-connect interface) to switch between fluid collection containers without requiring manual disconnection and reconnection of tubing, thereby preventing leaks and spills that could cause measurement errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If multiple canisters are used during high fluid volume procedures, then fluid collection capacity is increased, but the cost of the procedure increases proportionally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal fluid collection capacityVSAvoidprocedural cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of discarding full canisters and using new ones, the system recovers the collection capacity by transferring or emptying fluid from full containers to empty ones, allowing the same physical containers to be reused throughout the procedure. This eliminates the need to use multiple disposable canisters proportional to fluid volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 allows for uninterrupted fluid deficit monitoring and reduced procedural costs by continuously measuring fluid volume without the need for canister replacement, minimizing disruptions and errors in fluid management.

Implementation Method 1

one or more weight sensors for providing signals indicative of the sensed weight of the fluid collection containers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWeight sensing:

Implementation Method 2

a suction source for providing suction in the suction line to draw a vacuum in the fluid collection containers to thereby draw fluid from the surgical site into the fluid collection containers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS10518005B2Fluid management system with pass-through fluid volume measurement

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A fluid management system including a pass-through fluid volume measurement system to provide continuous measurement of fluid returned from a surgical site during transit to a waste collection system. The pass-through fluid volume measurement system eliminates the need to physically replace full fluid collection containers during the medical procedure with new, empty fluid collection containers.