Trans-Anal Irrigation Pump Base Temperature Sensor Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current trans-anal irrigation (TAI) devices face challenges in accurately monitoring and maintaining the temperature of irrigation liquid, particularly when the reservoir is separable from the pump base unit, leading to potential user intervention and lack of continuous temperature monitoring, which can result in suboptimal procedure conditions.
Innovation Solution
A TAI device with a wireless electronic controller and a temperature sensor integrated into the pump base unit, which communicates via Bluetooth to indicate whether the irrigation liquid is within a safe temperature range, preventing operation if the temperature is outside the desired range, and ensuring real-time feedback to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is placed in the separable reservoir, then temperature monitoring capability is achieved, but the sensor becomes susceptible to water damage and physical damage during normal usage
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is extracted from the separable reservoir and placed in the pump base unit. This allows the reservoir to be easily filled and removed without risking damage to the sensor, while the sensor remains protected in its new location. The reservoir base includes a recess that receives the sensor, positioning it to measure temperature through the reservoir base wall when the reservoir is in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir base acts as an intermediary medium between the irrigation liquid and the temperature sensor. The sensor measures temperature through the base wall without direct contact with the liquid, eliminating the need for the sensor to be waterproof while still achieving accurate temperature monitoring of the irrigation liquid.
2Ease of operation
If the reservoir is made separable from the pump base unit, then filling the reservoir becomes easier, but continuous temperature monitoring becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is pre-positioned in the reservoir base recess before the reservoir is filled. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the reservoir is placed on the base unit, the sensor is already in the correct position to begin continuous temperature monitoring immediately, maintaining monitoring capability despite the separable design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous temperature feedback through the controller, which receives signals from the temperature sensor and displays temperature information to the user. This feedback mechanism operates continuously regardless of reservoir separation, ensuring uninterrupted temperature monitoring and user awareness.
3Measurement precision
If a thermometer is used in the reservoir, then temperature can be measured, but the measurement is only taken at the beginning and not continuously monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor provides continuous temperature measurement throughout the irrigation procedure, not just at the beginning. The sensor remains active and connected to the controller, continuously monitoring temperature changes as the procedure progresses and providing real-time feedback to ensure temperature remains within the safe range.
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 continuous and accurate temperature monitoring, ensuring the irrigation liquid remains within the optimal range of 28°C to 38°C, enhancing the safety and efficiency of the TAI procedure by eliminating user reliance on crude methods and preventing temperature-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor is positioned in the reservoir base to sense the temperature of the irrigation liquid through the reservoir base wall
Data Source
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Figure 2a~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A trans-anal irrigation (TAI) device has a pump base unit, an irrigation fluid reservoir, a wireless electronic controller, fluid tubing, and a disposable rectal catheter in fluid communication with the tubing. The rectal catheter has a retention balloon and a waste control valve. The fluid tubing contains two or three separate lumens for irrigation fluid and retention balloon inflation/deflation and optionally for waste control valve actuation. None of the lumens ever communicates with any other lumen. A hydraulic control circuit has a pump that pumps in one direction only but, with suitable control valves, is able to pump water to and from the retention balloon and to and from an optional waste control valve. A water temperature sensor is mounted in the pump base unit at a thin-wall section. The temperature sensor sends a signal to a controller which provides an indication of whether the water temperature is suitable for use.