Sensor-Neutral Component Standardizes Blood Tube Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices for extracorporeal blood treatment often require operators to manually attach single-use tubes to different sensor systems, which can lead to non-reproducible steps and deviations that negatively affect measurement accuracy due to the operator's lack of knowledge about the specific measuring systems.
Innovation Solution
The medical device incorporates at least two sensor units with different operating principles, featuring sensor-specific and sensor-neutral components. The sensor-neutral components are identical and guide the operator in standardizing the tube insertion process, ensuring the tube is automatically coupled to the respective sensor system, regardless of the operating principle, using identical parts for cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different sensor systems with different operating principles are used, then measurement capability and versatility are improved, but the complexity of operation and installation increases for the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is divided into two distinct segments: a sensor-specific component containing the measurement system and a sensor-neutral component that provides standardized interface. This segmentation allows different sensor systems to be accommodated while maintaining uniform operation procedures through the standardized neutral component.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor-neutral component serves as a universal interface for all sensor units, providing standardized coupling elements and housing that work with any sensor-specific component. This multi-functionality enables a single standardized interface to accommodate multiple different sensor systems, simplifying operator interaction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different sensor systems are integrated, then the device can perform diverse measurements, but the device complexity and number of different components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor-neutral component acts as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple different sensor-specific components. By designing the neutral component with standardized features that work with various sensor types, the device achieves measurement diversity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the sensor unit have specialized functions: the sensor-specific component provides tailored measurement capabilities for particular parameters, while the sensor-neutral component provides standardized mechanical and electrical interface. This local specialization allows complexity to be concentrated where needed while maintaining simplicity elsewhere.
3Ease of operation
If standardized attachment procedure is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to accommodate different sensor systems may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the sensor unit into sensor-specific and sensor-neutral components enables standardized attachment procedures through the neutral component while accommodating different sensor systems through the specific component. The standardized coupling elements in the neutral component ensure uniform installation steps regardless of which sensor system is used.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor-neutral component serves as an intermediary between the standardized attachment procedure and the diverse sensor-specific components. It mediates the interaction by providing a uniform interface that translates standardized external actions into appropriate connections with different underlying sensor systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a medical device for extracorporeal blood treatment comprising an extracorporeal blood circulation having at least one tube and at least two sensor units measuring on the tube with different operating principles, wherein portions of the tube are adapted to be coupled to the at least two sensor units for measurement. According to the invention, each sensor unit consists of a sensor-specific component and a sensor-neutral component, wherein the sensor-neutral components of the sensor units are formed to be identical whereas the sensor-specific components are different in response to the operating principle and comprise a respective specific sensor system. Furthermore, for each sensor unit a sensor-neutral component is mounted on a sensor-specific component, wherein when being introduced and fixed in a sensor-neutral component a portion of the tube is adapted to be coupled to the sensor system of the sensor-specific component located there beneath so that the sensor system can carry out a measurement at the tube.