Pump Drive Power Switching With False Alarm Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ECMO systems experience power outages and communication interruptions during power supply switching, leading to pump stoppages and false alarms, increasing operational complexity and patient risk.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for uninterrupted power switching in ECMO systems, utilizing a control unit in the connector to establish real-time communication connections, identify power supply types, and determine normal switching, avoiding false alarms by monitoring voltage and communication status, and calculating battery endurance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a battery is used to provide emergency power to the pump drive when control host power fails, then power supply reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to power switching operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidpower switching operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a connector as an intermediary device between the power supply and pump drive that includes a control unit. This control unit automatically detects power supply status and manages switching between control host and battery power sources, eliminating the need for manual power switching operations while ensuring continuous power supply to the pump drive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit in the connector performs self-service by automatically monitoring power supply voltage levels, detecting when the control host fails, and autonomously switching to battery power without requiring user intervention. The system manages its own power supply transitions independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If real-time communication monitoring between control host and pump drive is established, then safety performance is improved, but false alarms occur during power supply switching due to communication interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety performanceVSAvoidfalse alarms
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit in the connector preliminarily establishes and maintains real-time communication connections with the pump drive before and during power supply switching. By proactively managing communication status and anticipating power transitions, the system prevents communication interruptions that would otherwise trigger false alarms, while still providing continuous safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual power switching operations are performed to replace depleted batteries or reconnect control hosts, then power supply adaptability is maintained, but operational complexity and patient risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply adaptabilityVSAvoidclinical operation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit automatically manages power supply transitions by monitoring voltage levels, detecting when the control host fails or battery is depleted, and autonomously switching between power sources. This eliminates manual switching operations entirely, making the system easier to operate while maintaining full adaptability to different power supply conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors power supply voltage levels and communication status, using this feedback to automatically determine when switching is needed and to execute appropriate power source transitions. The system adjusts its operation based on real-time feedback from the power supply environment without requiring user input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4664724A1Method and system for uninterrupted power supply switching for a pump drive
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 LIFEMOTION MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4664724A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4664724A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4664724A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application provides a method and system for uninterrupted power supply switching for a pump driver. According to the electrical connection relationships among the devices in the system to which the method is applied, and the corresponding determination method of whether a control host switches normally, redundant power supply for the pump drive can be achieved. When one or more power supply devices supply power simultaneously, the types of all power supply devices can be fully identified, and during a power supply switching process, accurate determination and timely communication connection establishment with the pump drive can be achieved, avoiding abnormal alarms being triggered by the pump drive during or after the power supply switching process, thereby ensuring uninterrupted continuous operation of the pump drive.