Passive Transponder Circuit for Medical Flow Regulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical infusion devices are often bulky, expensive, difficult to use, and require specialized care and maintenance, while disposable systems lack precision in regulating fluid flow for medical treatment.
Innovation Solution
A medical device system comprising a flow regulator and a control device that uses a passive transponder circuit to detect movable elements' displacement within a fluidic conduit, allowing for cost-effective and space-saving regulation of fluid flow, applicable to various types of medical devices and flow regulators, both external and implantable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional electro-mechanical pumping systems are used for medicament delivery, then precise fluid flow regulation is achieved, but device complexity, size, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electro-mechanical pumping systems with a much simpler passive flow regulator that uses fluid pressure differential and a movable element mechanism to achieve precise flow control. The flow regulator comprises a body with inlet/outlet ports and a movable element that responds to pressure changes, eliminating the need for motors, batteries, and complex control electronics while maintaining accurate flow regulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential flow regulation function from the complex electro-mechanical system, isolating it into a separate, simple passive flow regulator component. This allows the medicament delivery device to achieve precise flow control without incorporating the bulky and complex pumping mechanism, thereby reducing overall device complexity while preserving the critical flow regulation precision
2Device complexity
If disposable medical devices with minimum components are used, then device size and cost are reduced, but feedback capability and operational control are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a passive transponder circuit as an intermediary element within the disposable medical device that enables feedback capability without requiring active electronics, power sources, or complex communication systems. The transponder circuit passively responds to electromagnetic fields from an external reader, allowing the device to transmit operational status information (such as flow rate, reservoir level, or error conditions) while maintaining the simplicity and disposability of the medical device
Solution Approach 2:
The passive transponder circuit serves multiple functions: it provides feedback about device operational status, enables identification and tracking of the disposable device, and can store diagnostic information. This multi-functional approach allows a single simple component to address multiple information needs without increasing device complexity or requiring additional active systems
3Measurement precision
If flow regulator movable elements are used for fluid control, then precise flow regulation is achieved, but device size and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible thin-film membranes as the movable element in the flow regulator, which can be easily manufactured using standard microfabrication and thin-film deposition techniques. These thin-film membranes provide the necessary flexibility to respond to pressure differential while maintaining precise flow control, and they can be integrated into the flow regulator body through conventional manufacturing processes, thereby achieving high flow regulation precision without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The movable element is designed to be nested within the flow regulator body structure, with the thin-film membrane integrated into the device housing and fluid channels. This nested configuration minimizes the overall device size and allows the movable element to be manufactured as part of the integrated flow regulator assembly, reducing the number of separate manufacturing steps and simplifying production
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
Enables simple, cost-effective, and precise regulation of fluid flow for medical treatment, reducing the complexity and cost of medical devices while ensuring safe and effective operation, including detection of conditions like reservoir emptiness or occlusions.
Implementation Method 1
the transponder circuit has a capacitance or inductance or resistance or resonant frequency or Q factor, which changes as a function of the displacement of the movable elements
Implementation Method 2
the transponder circuit has a capacitance or inductance or resistance or resonant frequency or Q factor, which changes as a function of the displacement of the movable elements
Implementation Method 3
the transponder circuit has a capacitance or inductance or resistance or resonant frequency or Q factor, which changes as a function of the displacement of the movable elements
Implementation Method 4
The control device comprises a transceiver configured to transmit energy to the transponder circuit and to read out the capacitance and/or the inductance and/or the resistance and/or the resonant frequency and/or the Q factor of the transponder circuit
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for medical treatment is disclosed. The system comprises a medical device to be placed in contact with a patient, wherein the medical device comprises a fluidic conduit and/or is configured to be operatively coupled to a fluidic conduit. The medical device comprises a flow regulator for regulating the flow of a fluid in the fluidic conduit and at least two movable elements, which are passively displaceable as a function of a fluidic pressure change in the fluidic conduit or actively displaceable for regulating the flow of fluid in the fluidic conduit. The medical device further comprises at least one transponder circuit comprising at least one transponder element chosen from a capacitor, an inductor, a resistor, or combinations thereof, being arranged with respect to the movable elements such that the transponder circuit has a capacitance or inductance or resistance or resonant frequency or Q factor, which changes as a function of the displacement of the movable elements. The system further comprises a control device comprising a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit energy to the transponder circuit and to read out the capacitance and/or the inductance and/or the resistance and/or the resonant frequency and/or the Q factor of the transponder circuit, such as to determine with the same transponder circuit whether there is a displacement of any of the movable elements.