Patient Hydration Control Across Multiple Infusion Fluid Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
In infusion therapy, managing patient hydration is challenging due to fluid overload or dehydration risks from multiple fluid sources, especially in busy clinical environments with understaffing, making it difficult to monitor fluid intake and prevent complications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a first and second medical device, along with an electronic device, to receive fluid delivery requests, identify programmed amounts, and adjust medical device operations based on hydration levels to prevent fluid overload or dehydration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fluid sources are used in infusion therapy, then patient hydration can be maintained, but fluid overload risk increases and monitoring becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fluid delivery sources into a single integrated system that tracks and manages all fluid inputs. The electronic device receives signals from multiple infusion pumps and consolidates fluid volume data, allowing the system to monitor total fluid intake across all sources and prevent overload by coordinating delivery from multiple devices simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring fluid volumes from multiple sources in real-time and adjusting delivery parameters accordingly. The electronic device processes signals from infusion pumps, calculates cumulative fluid intake, and provides feedback to control fluid delivery rates to maintain hydration while preventing overload through automated regulation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fluid sources are used in infusion therapy, then patient hydration options increase, but monitoring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device performs multiple functions: it receives signals from various infusion pump types, tracks fluid volumes from different sources, calculates cumulative intake, and coordinates delivery adjustments. This multi-functional approach consolidates monitoring complexity into a single device that manages all fluid sources uniformly, reducing the burden on individual components and staff.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic device acts as an intermediary between multiple infusion pumps and the clinical workflow. It centralizes the monitoring and coordination function, processing signals from various fluid sources and providing unified control instructions, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing monitoring complexity despite having multiple fluid sources.
3Ease of operation
If manual monitoring of fluid intake is performed, then flexibility in management exists, but time consumption increases and staffing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-regulation by automatically tracking fluid volumes from multiple sources and adjusting delivery parameters without requiring continuous manual intervention. The electronic device independently processes infusion pump signals, calculates fluid intake, and coordinates delivery adjustments, freeing staff from monitoring tasks while maintaining flexible management through automated decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring with an electronic automated system. Instead of requiring staff to physically track and calculate fluid intake from multiple sources, the electronic device uses digital signal processing to monitor fluid volumes, perform calculations, and control delivery, thereby eliminating time-consuming manual monitoring while preserving management flexibility through programmable control parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing patient hydration is provided. The method includes receiving a fluid delivery request that includes a first programmed amount of a first fluid to be provided by a first medical device. Additionally, the method includes identifying a second programmed amount of a second fluid provided by or to be provided by a second medical device. Further, the method includes determining that a medical device operation should be adjusted based on the first and second programmed amounts. Finally, the method includes adjusting the medical device operation responsive to the determination and based on the fluid delivery request and the first and second programmed amounts.