Patient Thermal Control System Using BMI and Peripheral Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal control systems for patients often experience temperature overshoot and inefficiencies in achieving target temperatures due to reliance on core temperature measurements alone, without consideration for peripheral temperatures or individual patient factors like BMI.
Innovation Solution
The thermal control unit incorporates additional factors such as peripheral temperature, BMI, and other parameters to adjust fluid and blood temperatures, using a combination of heat exchangers and auxiliary thermal therapy devices like esophageal heat transfer and air temperature controllers to achieve precise temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only core temperature measurements are used to control fluid temperature, then the control system is simple, but temperature overshoot occurs and thermal stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring both core and peripheral temperatures and adjusting the fluid temperature accordingly. The controller receives temperature signals from both sensors and modifies the heating/cooling output to maintain target temperature, preventing overshoot and thermal stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control system is designed to handle multiple temperature parameters (core and peripheral) simultaneously using a single integrated controller that processes both inputs and coordinates the thermal response, making the system adaptable to comprehensive thermal management requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional patient factors like BMI and peripheral temperature are considered, then temperature control precision improves, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller adjusts the fluid temperature based on multiple patient-specific parameters including BMI, core temperature, and peripheral temperature. By considering these varying parameters, the system customizes the thermal response to each patient's unique characteristics, achieving precise temperature control without requiring complex additional hardware.
3Ease of operation
If fluid temperature is controlled to target fluid temperature only, then the control system is straightforward, but thermal stress on patient increases and comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from peripheral temperature sensors to monitor the patient's thermal response in real-time. When peripheral temperature changes indicate potential thermal stress or discomfort, the controller adjusts the fluid temperature to maintain patient comfort and safety while achieving the therapeutic target.
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 approach reduces temperature overshoot, accelerates the achievement of target patient temperatures, and minimizes thermal stress by considering the patient's overall thermal profile, leading to more effective and comfortable temperature management.
Implementation Method 1
The first heat exchanger is adapted to add or remove heat from the fluid circulating through the fluid circulation path, and the second heat exchanger is adapted to add or remove heat from the blood circulating through the blood circulation path
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal control system for controlling a temperature of a fluid delivered to a patient is provided. The system includes a thermal control unit having a fluid inlet and outlet, a circulation channel, a pump, a heat exchanger, a fluid temperature sensor and a controller that controls the heat exchanger in order to automatically bring a patient's temperature to a target temperature. In some embodiments, the control unit includes a user interface adapted to receive a non-temperature patient parameter (e.g. BMI) that the controller uses, along with patient core temperature readings, to control the heat exchanger. The controller may also or alternatively control the heat exchanger based on both core and peripheral patient temperature readings. An auxiliary thermal therapy device for controlling a temperature of the patient's blood, air breathed by the patient, and/or other fluid, may also be controlled by the thermal control unit.