Patient-Controlled Hydration Apparatus for Nil-by-Mouth Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for providing hydration fluids are unreliable, leading to dehydration and discomfort in patients, especially those unable to drink or on nil-by-mouth status, requiring increased nursing attention and resources, and failing to improve patient comfort effectively.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for dispensing hydration fluids in response to user signals, allowing for controlled, metered amounts of hydration fluid for both oral and intravenous delivery, with criteria-based dispensing to prevent overhydration, using a signal input device and control unit to manage fluid intake based on dispensing history and patient needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nurses manually provide hydration fluids to patients, then patient hydration needs can be addressed, but nursing workload and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service hydration system where patients independently control fluid administration through a handheld device. The system allows patients to request and receive predetermined metered amounts of hydration fluid without nursing intervention, enabling them to serve their own hydration needs while maintaining safety through programmed dosage limits and nil-by-mouth status monitoring.
2Ease of operation
If patients on nil-by-mouth status receive oral hydration fluids, then patient comfort improves, but nil-by-mouth status is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing different types of hydration intervention in different contexts. For nil-by-mouth patients, it delivers only small predetermined amounts (e.g., 5-10ml) sufficient for oral comfort and mouth wetting without providing full hydration volumes that would compromise the nil-by-mouth status. The system tailors the quality and quantity of fluid delivery to the specific patient condition.
3Quantity of substance
If large amounts of hydration fluid are dispensed to patients unable to sit up, then hydration needs are met, but patient safety is compromised due to choking risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by dispensing only the minimum necessary amount of hydration fluid (predetermined small volumes such as 5-10ml) to patients who cannot sit up. This partial delivery provides sufficient moisture for comfort and safety without delivering excessive volumes that would create choking hazards. The system deliberately under-delivers relative to full hydration needs to prioritize safety.
4Ease of operation
If inexperienced individuals prescribe hydration fluids, then fluid administration can be performed, but prescribing accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical decision-making process of human prescribers with an automated computer-based control system. The computer program stores and enforces predetermined dosage parameters, dispensing limits, and safety criteria, eliminating variability and errors associated with human prescribing. The system automatically calculates and delivers appropriate volumes based on patient status without requiring clinical judgment from inexperienced staff.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing hydration fluids. The invention allows for a 'background' rate of providing a hydration fluid to be automatically supplied by an apparatus to a patient, for example intravenously, and for the patient to receive an extra amount of hydration fluid, or 'bolus dose', to be provided when the patient sends a signal to the apparatus. In preferred embodiments the background supply rate, the volume and rate of supply of the bolus dose and the maximum extra volume that can be provided as bolus doses in a given time can be set, for example, by a nurse.