Pulsatile Medical Device Flushing for Air Removal
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flushing methods for medical devices, particularly those in communication with the cerebral vasculature, are inadequate in removing air bubbles due to laminar flow, which can lead to cerebral injury even with minuscule air volumes entering the bloodstream.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing pulsatile flows of flushing gases and liquids, with a first fluid delivery device providing a pulsatile flow of gas and a second device providing a pulsatile flow of liquid, along with a bubble capture device to enhance air removal by disrupting laminar flow and creating turbulent flow, thereby improving air displacement and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional laminar flow flushing is used, then the flushing system is simple and easy to operate, but air bubbles remain trapped on internal surfaces and are difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using a pulsatile flow generator to create alternating phases of high-velocity flushing fluid flow and low-velocity or reversed flow. This periodic pulsation disrupts laminar flow patterns, prevents air bubble attachment to internal surfaces, and enhances air removal effectiveness without requiring complex additional components beyond the flow generator.
2Reliability
If pulsatile flow is used to disrupt laminar flow, then air removal effectiveness increases, but the device complexity increases due to additional flow control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pulsatile flow generation capability directly into the flushing system architecture, combining the flow generator with the flushing fluid delivery path. This integration allows the system to achieve enhanced air removal through pulsatile flow while maintaining operational simplicity, as the combined design eliminates the need for separate complex flow control mechanisms.
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 pulsatile flow system significantly enhances air removal from medical devices, particularly in regions where conventional methods fail, reducing the risk of cerebral injury by effectively displacing air bubbles and ensuring thorough priming of medical devices before use.
Implementation Method 1
In conventional flushing techniques, the flow of the flushing fluid is laminar, meaning that the fluid flow rate is slower closer to internal-surface-walls of a lumen in which the fluid is flowing
Implementation Method 2
Pulsed flow disrupts the development of laminar flow and brings the velocity profile closer to that of turbulent or plug flow
Data Source
AI summary
A system for flushing a lumen of a medical device to remove air, comprising: a first fluid delivery device adapted to provide a pulsatile flow of a flushing gas from a pressurised source of the flushing gas; a second fluid delivery device adapted to provide a pulsatile flow of a flushing liquid from a source of the flushing liquid; and, at least one fluid coupling for connecting the first fluid delivery device and the second fluid delivery device to the lumen of the medical device.