Rigid Flat-Walled Drip Chamber for Accurate Optical Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infusion devices face issues with inaccurate fluid delivery due to flexible and curved drip chambers causing image distortion, leading to unreliable flow rate measurements and failure detection, and require methods to increase flow rate and release air without disconnecting patients.
Innovation Solution
A rigid, flat-walled drip chamber with a transparent construction for optimal imaging and an air pressure release device that allows manual stimulation of a pump to increase flow rate, enabling direct calculation of fluid volume and flow rate using camera imaging and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible material is used for drip chamber construction, then air can be physically depressurized from the drip chamber, but the flexible material easily becomes distorted making visual captures impossible for adequate fluid measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The drip chamber is segmented into distinct functional zones: a rigid flat-walled chamber for imaging and a separate flexible portion for air compression. This allows the rigid chamber to maintain structural integrity for accurate imaging while the flexible portion handles air release operations independently.
Solution Approach 2:
A one-way valve acts as an intermediary between the flexible chamber portion and the rigid imaging chamber. It allows air to pass from the flexible to the rigid chamber during compression but prevents backflow, maintaining the structural integrity of the rigid chamber while enabling air release functionality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If curved wall design is used in drip chamber, then structural flexibility is improved, but image distortion is created affecting fluid measurement
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the drip chamber have different structural properties: the imaging chamber has flat rigid walls for optimal image quality, while other portions can have curved flexible walls for structural adaptability. This local differentiation allows each zone to optimize its function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The drip chamber is divided into a rigid flat-walled imaging chamber and separate flexible portions. The rigid chamber maintains stable flat surfaces for accurate camera imaging, while flexible portions provide structural adaptability and air compression capability without affecting image quality.
3Device complexity
If gravity infusion set is used, then flow rate control is simplified, but flow rate cannot be increased sufficiently for certain medical needs
Solution Approach 1:
The infusion device combines features of both gravity-based and pump-driven systems. It includes a pump mechanism that can be manually or automatically actuated to pressurize the fluid, allowing the system to function in both gravity-driven mode (low complexity) and pump-driven mode (high productivity) depending on medical needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static gravity-driven flow to dynamic pump-driven flow when increased delivery rate is needed. The pump can be manually squeezed or automatically activated to provide variable flow rates, allowing the system to adapt its productivity level based on patient requirements while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.
4Productivity
If pump-driven infusion set is used, then flow rate can be increased, but the infusion process becomes complicated delivering fluid at too high flow rate causing medical issues
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system provides real-time feedback on fluid flow and drip chamber conditions. This feedback loop allows the system to monitor flow rate and adjust pump actuation accordingly, preventing excessively high flow rates while maintaining the ability to increase delivery rate when medically appropriate. The feedback mechanism simplifies control by using visual information to automatically regulate flow.
5Device complexity
If traditional camera imaging method is used with flexible drip chamber, then device simplicity is maintained, but image distortion prevents accurate flow rate determination
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging chamber is segmented as a separate rigid flat-walled portion within the drip chamber assembly. This rigid portion provides a stable, distortion-free imaging surface for the camera, while the rest of the system can remain relatively simple. The segmentation isolates the imaging function from the flexible portions needed for air release.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging chamber has locally optimized flat rigid walls specifically for optical clarity, while other portions of the drip chamber can have different properties for their respective functions. This local quality differentiation allows the camera to capture accurate images without requiring the entire drip chamber to be rigid and complex.
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 solution provides accurate and reliable fluid delivery by eliminating image distortion, allowing for precise flow rate control and air release without patient disconnection, enhancing infusion system reliability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a single camera system is utilized to capture a liquid drop passing through a drip chamber wherein a captured image of the drop is processed
Implementation Method 2
A drip chamber for an infusion set that is not flexible, is flat-wall and is constructed of a material allowing images of fluid and/or fluid drops captured within the drip chamber to be of the highest resolution and/or quality
Data Source
AI summary
An infusion device. individual components of the infusion device, and a method related to obtaining fluid measurements provided by the infusion device. A specialty fluid chamber arranged to afford optimal optical imaging clarity by a camera of fluid therein or entering the chamber.