Relief Pipe On-Off Valve Prevents Rush Dosing in Pump Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing mechanisms for patients with liquid medicine do not effectively prevent a rush of medicinal solution when a tube is closed and then reopened, leading to potential overdose.

Innovation Solution

A pump unit with a relief pipe and on-off valve configuration that allows excess medicinal solution to be diverted back to the suction side when the dosing route is closed, preventing it from flowing towards the patient upon reopening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pump is driven continuously to prevent backward flow when the tube is closed, then the reliability of preventing backward flow is improved, but the patient may be dosed in a rush with a large amount of medicinal solution when the tube is reopened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackward flow preventionVSAvoidrush dosing hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge-side pipe is segmented into two paths: the main discharge path and a relief path. The relief path includes a relief pipe and relief pipe on-off valve that can be opened to divert excess medicinal solution away from the patient, thereby segmenting the flow paths to prevent rush dosing while maintaining backward flow prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relief pipe acts as an intermediary path that provides an alternative route for excess medicinal solution. When the relief pipe on-off valve is opened, it mediates the flow by directing excess solution through the relief path instead of toward the patient, preventing the harmful rush dosing effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a relief pipe and on-off valve are added to divert excess medicinal solution, then the safety of preventing rush dosing is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverush dosing preventionVSAvoidpump unit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relief pipe on-off valve is opened in advance before the tube is reopened, allowing excess medicinal solution to be drained through the relief path. This preliminary action prevents the accumulation of excess solution that would otherwise cause rush dosing when the tube is reopened

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary 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 configuration effectively suppresses the flow of excess medicinal solution towards the patient, preventing a rush dose and allowing the solution to be reused, thus ensuring safe and controlled medication delivery.

Implementation Method 1

a relief pipe whose one end is connected to the pipe on the discharge side while the other end is located in a part whose pressure is lower than pressure inside the pipe on the discharge side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

in the pump a volume of a solution feeding part repeats expansion and shrinkage, thereby sucking the medicine from the medicine vessel and discharging the medicine toward the patient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExpansion and shrinkage:

Data Source

PatentEP3225267B1Drug administration mechanism and pump unit for drug administration mechanism

Publication Date: 2021.11.10 NITTO DENKO CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
Figure 3(a)~3(d)

AI summary

The present invention relates to a dosing mechanism including: a body; and a pump unit (3) that is attached to the body, in which the pump unit (3) includes: a pump (31) in which a volume of a solution feeding part therein repeats expansion and shrinkage, thereby sucking a medicine from a medicine vessel and discharging the medicine to a patient; a suction-side pipe (333) that extends from the pump (31) toward the medicine vessel; a discharge-side pipe (334) that extends from the pump (31) toward the patient; a relief pipe (35, 35a) whose one end (351) is connected to the discharge-side pipe (333) while the other end (352) is located in a part whose pressure is lower than pressure inside the discharge-side pipe when the medicine is dosed; and a relief pipe on-off valve (36, 36a) that opens and closes the relief pipe (35, 35a), a use method of a dosing mechanism, and a pump unit for a dosing mechanism.