Translucent Safety Insert for Extracorporeal Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transducer protectors for extra-corporeal circuits have limitations in providing a high intrinsic safety margin and detecting failures promptly, with complex designs requiring additional components and relying on statistical effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A transducer protector with a simple structure featuring two hydrophobic semi-permeable membranes in series, where at least part of the second half-shell is made of translucent material, allowing for visual detection of membrane failure through color change, providing a clear warning signal for service personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two membranes in series are used to increase safety margin, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components required for detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color change detection by making the second half-shell translucent or transparent. When blood contaminates the space between the two membranes, the service personnel can visually detect the contamination through the translucent material, which changes appearance when blood is present. This eliminates the need for complex electronic detection components while maintaining the dual-membrine safety structure.
2Ease of operation
If translucent material is used for the second half-shell, then ease of operation is improved by enabling visual detection, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameter (translucency) of the second half-shell material to enable visual detection. By selecting a material that is translucent rather than opaque, the design allows service personnel to see through the housing and detect blood contamination. This parameter change simplifies operation without requiring complex manufacturing tolerances, as the translucent property is an inherent material characteristic rather than a precision dimension.
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
Enhances the safety margin by enabling timely intervention in case of membrane failure, as the color change of the translucent material clearly indicates contamination, thus overcoming the limitations of prior art designs.
Implementation Method 1
a first hydrophobic semi-permeable membrane (23) having a first membrane area A1 and a second hydrophobic semi-permeable membrane (24) having a second membrane area A2
Implementation Method 2
at least part of the second half-shell (22) being made with a translucent or transparent material
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a safety insert 20 for an extra-corporeal circuit 19. The safety insert, comprises: a first half-shell 21 and a second half-shell 22 forming a shell 212 defining an inner duct 221, at least part of the second half-shell being made with a translucent or transparent material; a first tubular connector 25 adapted to be connected to a branch pipe 27 from the extra-corporeal circuit, and a second tubular connector 26 defined by the first half-shell and adapted to be connected to a transducer 28; and a first hydrophobic semi-permeable membrane 23 having a first membrane area A1 and a second hydrophobic semi-permeable membrane 24 having a second membrane area A2, said two membranes being arranged in series along said inner duct 221. In a front view, the extent of an overlapping area A12 of said membranes is comprised between 0% and 50% of the smaller of said two membrane areas A1, A2. The inventions further relates to an extra-corporeal circuit 19 comprising the above safety insert.