Pulse Infusion Device With Bidirectional Pump For High Velocity Anesthetic Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current infusion pumps are inadequate for administering large volumes of anesthetic medication at high velocities required for continuous regional and local anesthesia, as they fail to generate sufficient pressure and are not designed for rapid infusion through thin, long catheters.

Innovation Solution

A programmable pulse infusion system with a bidirectional pump and controller that generates infusion liquid pulses of at least 2 ml at a velocity of 5 ml/min, using a tubing system with check valves to maintain stable and accurate average flow rates, suitable for large volume pulses at low frequency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If conventional infusion pumps are used to administer anesthetic medication, then continuous medication insertion is achieved, but the pumps cannot generate sufficient pressure for rapid infusion through thin, long catheters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinfusion pressureVSAvoidinfusion velocity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic pulsatile infusion instead of continuous flow. The pump delivers medication in controlled pulses at frequencies of 1-10 Hz, creating high-pressure bursts that propel fluid through the catheter effectively, then allows pressure to dissipate during the off-phase. This periodic action enables high peak pressures for rapid infusion while maintaining safe average pressures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts infusion parameters including pulse frequency, pulse duration, and flow rate in real-time. The pump can vary these parameters based on patient needs, catheter characteristics, and desired infusion velocity, allowing optimization of both pressure generation and infusion productivity for different clinical scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If large volumes of medication are infused at high velocities, then rapid nerve bathing is achieved, but conventional pumps cannot endure the required pressures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinfusion velocityVSAvoidpump endurance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By using pulsatile flow with duty cycles of 10-50%, the system achieves high peak flow rates for rapid nerve bathing while the pump only operates at high stress during brief pulses. The periodic nature allows the pump to endure high velocities without continuous high-pressure stress, improving reliability and preventing pump failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates pressure relief mechanisms and flow regulation that cushion against excessive pressure buildup before it can damage the pump. Check valves and pressure-sensitive shut-off features prevent pressure from exceeding pump endurance limits, allowing high-velocity infusion when needed while protecting the pump from damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Stability of the object's composition

If continuous pulse flow is delivered at defined volume and frequency, then stable average flow rate is maintained, but precise control of pulse parameters is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaverage flow rate stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates flow sensors and pressure sensors that provide real-time feedback to the control system. This feedback enables the microcontroller to adjust pulse parameters dynamically to maintain stable average flow rates despite variations in catheter resistance, patient movement, or other environmental factors, achieving precision without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically adjusts pulse frequency and duration based on feedback from flow and pressure sensors, maintaining stable average flow rates without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates to compensate for changes in the infusion pathway or patient condition, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 system effectively maintains continuous nerve bathing for improved post-operative pain therapy by delivering medication pulses efficiently, addressing the limitations of existing pumps in pressure and flow rate.

Implementation Method 1

a bidirectional pump configured to pump infusion fluid from the external reservoir to the internal reservoir and further pump and administer one or more consecutive infusion fluid pulses from the internal reservoir

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 2

The tubing system may further include a check valve proximate to the inlet and an anti-siphon check valve proximate to the outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOne-way valve mechanism: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP3436112B1Pulse infusion device system and method
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 MEDICAL FLOW SYST
  • EP3436112B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3436112B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP3436112B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A method and a system are described for administrating an infusion liquid pulse. The system includes a tubing system having an inlet connected to an external reservoir adapted to contain infusion fluids and an outlet connected to a catheter. The tubing system includes a check valve proximate to the inlet and an anti-siphon valve proximate to the outlet. The system further includes an automatic pulse flow generation device. The automatic pulse flow generation device includes an internal reservoir and a bidirectional pump configured to pump infusion fluid from the external reservoir to the internal reservoir and further pump an infusion fluid pulse from the internal reservoir to be infused by a catheter, the infusion liquid pulse has a volume of at least 2 ml and a velocity of at least 5 ml/min.