Pump Control System Detecting Venous Collapse via Pressure Oscillations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood pump control systems fail to reliably detect and prevent venous vessel collapse during extracorporeal circulation, leading to potential life-threatening blood flow disruptions and mechanical injuries, especially in long-term applications like ECMO and VADs, where manual monitoring is impractical.

Innovation Solution

A method that detects incipient venous collapse by analyzing pressure/flow oscillations and adjusting pump speed to maintain a stable blood flow, using pressure sensors and vibro-acoustic analysis to identify pre-collapse states and prevent vessel collapse through controlled pump speed adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual monitoring of blood flow parameters is used, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot reliably detect incipient vessel collapse in long-term applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of vessel collapse detectionVSAvoidease of manual monitoring
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-monitoring by automatically analyzing pressure waveform oscillations to detect incipient vessel collapse. The pump control system continuously processes pressure signals from the venous line, identifying characteristic oscillation patterns that indicate approaching collapse, thereby enabling the system to monitor itself without external intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by continuously measuring pressure oscillations in the venous line and using this information to detect incipient collapse. The characteristic oscillation patterns provide feedback about the vessel's approaching collapse state, allowing the system to respond before complete collapse occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If pressure monitoring alone is used, then the measurement is simple, but it cannot distinguish between collapse and normal negative pressure variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of collapse detectionVSAvoidcomplexity of pressure analysis
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of incipient collapse by analyzing characteristic pressure oscillations before complete vessel collapse occurs. By identifying the specific oscillation pattern that precedes collapse, the system can take preventive action while the vessel is still patent, improving detection precision without requiring complex additional sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the pump runs at high speed to maintain blood flow, then productivity is improved, but the risk of vessel collapse increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood flow rateVSAvoidrisk of vessel collapse
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting the characteristic oscillation pattern that indicates the vessel is approaching collapse. Upon detecting this pre-collapse state, the system reduces the pump speed before complete collapse occurs, thereby preventing the harmful effect while maintaining optimal blood flow during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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

This method effectively detects and prevents venous collapse by analyzing pressure waveforms and adjusting pump speed, ensuring stable blood flow and reducing the risk of mechanical injury, even in cases of cardiac arrest or position changes, thereby maintaining optimal circulation support.

Implementation Method 1

detecting a pre-collapse oscillation state characterized by oscillations of blood pressure of substantially constant frequency and limited amplitude

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure oscillation detection:

Implementation Method 2

a pump control system for optimizing the blood flow of the pump in a manner that prevents vessel collapse

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPump speed control: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP3238764B1A method of detecting incipient blood vessel collapse and a device configured to carry out the method
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 KILUK SEBASTIAN
  • EP3238764B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3238764B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3238764B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of detecting incipient blood vessel collapse in a circuit comprising means for drainage, preferably a cannula, positioned in said vessel and connected to a pump, characterized in that the incipient vessel collapse is detected by detecting a pre-collapse oscillation state characterized by oscillations of blood pressure of substantially constant frequency and limited amplitude. The invention relates also to a method of optimizing the blood flow of a pump comprising the step of detecting incipient blood vessel collapse, a device, preferably a medical apparatus, configured to carry out the method of the present invention, and to a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program configured to carry out said method.