Recirculation Device Fluid Purity Wastage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing recirculation systems for extracorporeal blood treatment devices, such as dialysis machines, require a new fluid bag for each filling and recirculation cycle, leading to significant fluid wastage due to contamination of the fluid bag with each use.
Innovation Solution
A recirculation device equipped with a 3-way switch, such as a 3-way valve, allows for efficient fluid management by isolating the fluid container during recirculation, enabling the reuse of the fluid container for multiple treatments and eliminating contamination, using a universal medical fluid container with a spike or connecting device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fluid bag remains in the system circuit for filling and recirculation processes, then the fluid can be circulated through the fluid bag to remove contaminants and air pockets, but the fluid inside the fluid bag becomes contaminated and must be discarded after one use
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional segments: a recirculation circuit with dedicated recirculation fluid and a treatment circuit with patient-specific fluid paths. The fluid bag is isolated from the recirculation circuit during recirculation operations, preventing contamination while allowing the recirculation fluid to be reused across multiple treatment sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid bag is extracted or removed from the recirculation circuit during recirculation processes. The system allows the recirculation to occur without the fluid bag present, separating the filling function from the recirculation function, thereby preventing the recirculation fluid from contaminating the patient treatment fluid.
2Reliability
If a new fluid bag is used for each filling/recirculation cycle, then fluid purity is maintained, but the cost and waste of fluid increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers and reuses the recirculation fluid by maintaining it in a separate recirculation circuit away from the patient treatment path. The recirculation fluid can be filtered and reused across multiple treatment sessions, while the fluid bag is only used for initial filling and then discarded, optimizing the balance between fluid purity and fluid consumption.
3Ease of operation
If the venous line section remains open to atmosphere during filling, then air can escape from the system, but the system requires additional steps to connect to the fluid bag for recirculation
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automatic air detection and venting mechanisms that eliminate the need for manual intervention to open venous lines. The recirculation circuit automatically manages air removal during filling operations, and the system self-configures the connection state of the fluid bag based on the operational phase, reducing both operational complexity and potential for error.
Data Source
AI summary
A recirculation device of an extracorporeal blood treatment device is disclosed with a preferably universal medical fluid container to which an arterial line section of a fluid conducting system of the extracorporeal blood treatment device can be connected as an option. Furthermore, the recirculation device has a 3-way switch, preferably a 3-way valve, which is arranged directly downstream of the universal medical fluid container. A conduit of the 3-way switch is preferably coupled with a spike or a similar connecting device or is formed in one piece together with it.