Pressure Damper Prevents Degassing in Infusion Lines

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Solution Overview

Problem

The infusion of fluids in extracorporeal blood treatment systems often leads to degassing due to negative pressure conditions, resulting in air bubbles and foam accumulation, which pose health risks and require frequent monitoring and adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A disposable set with a pressure damper, such as a flow passage restrictor or a one-way valve, is integrated into the infusion line to prevent or reduce negative pressure, thereby minimizing degassing. The pressure damper can be configured to allow fluid passage only in the infusion direction, ensuring that the infusion fluid remains under positive pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If infusion fluid is delivered in negative pressure conditions upstream the blood pump, then the infusion can be administered to the patient, but degassing occurs causing air bubbles and foam accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfusion deliveryVSAvoiddegassing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure damper is installed upstream in the infusion line to preemptively counteract the negative pressure effects before they can cause degassing. By placing the protective element in advance, the harmful cavitation and bubble formation are prevented before they occur in the infusion fluid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure damper acts as an intermediary element between the infusion pump and the infusion fluid. It mediates the pressure transmission, allowing the infusion to proceed while blocking the harmful negative pressure from directly acting on the fluid, thus preventing degassing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a pressure damper is added to the infusion line to prevent degassing, then patient safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidinfusion system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure damper is designed as a disposable component that is integrated into the single-use infusion set. This approach allows the use of a protective element without permanently increasing the complexity of the reusable parts of the system. The disposable nature means the component is discarded after one use, simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Speed

If infusion line is exposed to negative pressure, then fluid can be drawn through the line, but gases previously dissolved in the fluid separate and form bubbles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flowVSAvoidfluid homogeneity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure damper provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining a minimum pressure threshold in the infusion line. This protective barrier prevents the negative pressure from reaching levels that would cause gas exsolution, thus cushioning the fluid against compositional instability and bubble formation before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 implementation of the pressure damper effectively reduces or prevents degassing in the infusion fluid, enhancing patient safety by minimizing the risk of embolism and blood clotting, and reducing the workload for medical personnel by decreasing the frequency of degassing chamber servicing.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure damper (40) arranged proximate or at the first end of the infusion line (51), the pressure damper (40) being configured to prevent, or reduce an amount of, the access negative pressure to extend in the infusion line (51)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

A disposable set with a pressure damper, such as a flow passage restrictor or a one-way valve, is integrated into the infusion line to prevent or reduce negative pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow resistance: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS20250041499A1Disposable set and extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus for preventing degassing in an infusion fluid line

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 GAMBRO LUNDIA AB

AI summary

Disposable set for an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus including a blood circuit comprising a filtration unit, a blood withdrawal line including a blood pump tract configured to be engaged by a blood pump, a blood return line, and an infusion line extending between a first end connected to the blood withdrawal line upstream the blood pump tract, and a second end for connection to an infusion substance source: the blood pump tract is interposed between the filtration unit and the first end of the infusion line. The disposable set further comprises a pressure damper arranged towards or at the first end of the infusion line, the pressure damper being configured to prevent, or reduce an amount of, the access negative pressure to extend in the infusion line upstream the pressure damper.