Peristaltic Lavage Pump Layout for Sterile Low-Waste Reuse

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lavage arrangements with reusable drive units have high manufacturing and resource costs due to the design of disposable parts, and there is a need to reduce costs and resource consumption while maintaining hygiene and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A lavage arrangement with a peristaltic pump design where the rotor and deformable fluid line section form a reusable drive unit, and the fluid line section is disposable, ensuring sterility and minimizing waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the housing and pump components are designed as disposable parts, then hygiene requirements are met, but manufacturing costs and material expenditure increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehygieneVSAvoidmanufacturing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into disposable components (housing, fluid line, applicator) and reusable components (drive unit with motor and pump). This segmentation allows the expensive drive unit to be reused while only the contaminated housing and fluid line are disposed of, reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining hygiene.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drive unit is designed to be recoverable and reusable across multiple housing units, while the housing and fluid line are discarded after single use. This recovery approach significantly reduces material expenditure and manufacturing costs for subsequent operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If a traditional pump design is used with multiple components, then pumping function is achieved, but device complexity and component quantity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepumping functionVSAvoidcomponent quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor and fluid line are merged to form an integrated peristaltic pump mechanism. The rotor with displacement elements directly interacts with the fluid line to create pumping action, eliminating the need for separate pump housing, valves, and complex mechanical assemblies while maintaining reliable pumping function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The peristaltic pump uses the elastic deformation of the fluid line under mechanical compression by the rotor to create pumping action. This hydraulic principle allows pumping without traditional mechanical seals, valves, or complex internal pump mechanisms, simplifying the overall device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of manufacture

If the fluid line is made reusable, then resource consumption is reduced, but sterility cannot be guaranteed and wear-related leaks occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource consumptionVSAvoidsterility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid line is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after single use. This ensures sterility is maintained for each new operation and eliminates wear-related leaks that would occur with reusable fluid lines. The low cost of the disposable fluid line offsets the resource consumption concern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

Significantly reduces manufacturing and resource costs by allowing reusable components while maintaining sterility and preventing wear-related leaks, with a design that facilitates easy disposal and recycling.

Implementation Method 1

The rotor, together with a re-deformable section of the fluid line, forms the pump, specifically in the form of a peristaltic pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeristalsis: Peristalsis

Data Source

PatentEP4321184B1Lavage device
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 H&B ELECTRONICS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4321184B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4321184B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4321184B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A lavage arrangement (2) comprises an applicator housing (6) which includes a handle (8) and an application opening (10) for dispensing a rinsing fluid (F) and encloses a drive unit (30) accessible via a housing opening (32). The lavage arrangement also includes a fluid line (14) by means of which the application opening (10) can be connected to a reservoir (16) of the rinsing fluid (F). Furthermore, the lavage arrangement includes a drive unit (34) of a pump (36) that can be inserted into the drive unit (30) and serves to pump the rinsing fluid (F) from the reservoir (16) to the application opening (10). The drive unit (34) comprises a motor (38), a power supply unit (40), and a pump drive shaft (44) driven by the motor (38).It is provided that a rotor (46) which can be driven by means of the pump drive shaft (44) is provided, on which at least one displacement element (48) is held, which together with a re-deformable section (52) of the liquid line (14) forms the pump (36) in the form of a peristaltic pump (36).