Portable Infusion Device Balloon Pressure Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current infusion pumps are limited by their size, complexity, and battery life, making them impractical for emergency situations, and they lack accurate volume measurement capabilities, leading to inconsistent fluid delivery and increased mortality risk in trauma patients. Additionally, existing methods for measuring fluid volume are inefficient and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A portable infusion device that generates its own pressure, allowing for accurate fluid flow rate measurement over time using pressure measurements and a simple, energy-efficient mechanism, independent of the fluid source's height, and incorporating a calibration tank and temperature sensor for precise volume calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If modern infusion pumps are used, then flow rate control is improved, but device size and complexity increase making them impractical for emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical infusion pumps with a portable device that uses a balloon-based mechanical advantage system. The balloon expands to push fluid through the infusion line, eliminating the need for complex motors, pumps, and electronic controls while maintaining flow rate control. This mechanical substitution reduces device size and complexity for emergency portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using an expandable balloon that inflates to generate pressure for fluid delivery. The balloon's expansion creates the necessary pressure to push fluid through the infusion line, replacing traditional mechanical pumping mechanisms with a simpler pneumatic system that is more suitable for portable emergency use.
2Ease of operation
If gravity infusions are used, then device portability is improved, but fluid delivery consistency deteriorates during patient transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent counteracts the effects of gravity and patient movement by using an expandable balloon that generates active pressure to push fluid through the line. Instead of relying on passive gravity-dependent flow, the balloon's expansion provides an opposing force that maintains consistent fluid delivery regardless of patient position or transport conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static gravity-dependent infusion system into a dynamic system where the balloon can be actively inflated and deflated to control fluid flow. This dynamic mechanism allows the device to adapt to changing patient positions and transport conditions, maintaining reliable fluid delivery consistency.
3Measurement precision
If volume measurement capabilities are added, then dose delivery accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service measurement system where the expandable balloon's volume expansion directly indicates the volume of fluid delivered. The balloon acts as both the pumping mechanism and the measurement device, eliminating the need for separate sensors, meters, or electronic measurement systems. This self-measuring approach provides volume tracking without adding device complexity.
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
The device provides reliable, accurate, and efficient fluid delivery with minimal training requirements, ensuring consistent infusion rates and reducing the risk of errors, even in challenging transport situations, by using pressure measurements to compute fluid flow rates and adjust delivery accordingly.
Implementation Method 1
the balloon pushes fluid through the infusion line at a rate that overcomes the patient's blood pressure
Implementation Method 2
pressure sensor to sense pressure changes in the fluid
Implementation Method 3
measuring the pressure decay in the bladder volume indicates the flow rate of the fluid from the fluid source
Data Source
AI summary
A portable infusion apparatus and method are provided for controlling the delivery of medicinal fluid to a patient. A fluid delivery system receives control input to control a setting of a variable fluid flow resistor. The variable fluid flow resistor resists passage of fluid through a fluid pathway between a fluid source and a recipient. The fluid delivery system; produces a control signal indicative of the setting of the variable fluid flow resistor; derives a fluid flow rate value from the control signal; and applies pressure to the fluid source to deliver the fluid from the fluid source to the recipient through the variable fluid flow resistor at a rate as specified by the derived fluid flow rate value.