Vein-Side Air Trap Priming for Stable Blood Fluid Levels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling fluid levels in drip chambers of blood purification systems are inaccurate due to reliance on pressure variations, leading to inconsistent fluid adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A blood purification apparatus with specific priming steps and components, including a vein-side air trap chamber, gas supply and exhaust channels, and a viscous pump system, allows for precise adjustment of fluid levels by alternating fluid and air flow to maintain a stable fluid level in the drip chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pressure detection method is used to control fluid level in drip chamber, then fluid level can be monitored, but fluid level adjustment becomes inaccurate when fluid level varies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid level measurement accuracyVSAvoidfluid level adjustment consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a drip chamber as an intermediary component between the blood circuit and the fluid reservoir. The drip chamber decouples the pressure detection system from the fluid level being measured, allowing accurate pressure-based monitoring without the measurement being affected by fluid level variations in the main reservoir. This mediator isolates the measurement system from disturbances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is divided into separate functional segments: a drip chamber for pressure-equilibrated fluid level sensing, and a separate blood circuit system. By segmenting the system, the patent allows the drip chamber to handle pressure variations independently while the main fluid reservoir maintains stable levels, resolving the contradiction between monitoring capability and adjustment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If extracorporeal circulation circuit is prevented from expanding, then system stability is improved, but fluid level control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit expansion stabilityVSAvoidfluid level control ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fluid level control function from the main blood circuit by introducing a separate drip chamber. This allows the blood circuit to maintain stability without expansion while the drip chamber handles fluid level adjustments independently, making operation easier without compromising circuit stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 apparatus enables accurate and stable fluid level adjustment in the drip chamber, independent of pressure variations, ensuring consistent operation of the blood purification system.

Implementation Method 1

The vein-side gas supply and exhaust pipe channel is connected to the vein-side air trap chamber, and through the vein-side gas supply and exhaust pipe channel, air in the vein-side air trap chamber can be exhausted and air can be supplied into the vein-side air trap chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas supply and exhaust:

Implementation Method 2

The blood pump is provided in the artery-side blood circuit and configured to deliver blood

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 3

The dialysis fluid pump is provided in the dialysis fluid pipe channel and capable of delivering the fresh dialysis fluid and the used dialysis fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 4

The priming fluid pipe channel is connected to the artery-side blood circuit, and through the priming fluid pipe channel, a priming fluid is supplied

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid supply:

Data Source

PatentEP4691511A1Blood purification device
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 NIPRO CORP
  • EP4691511A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4691511A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4691511A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A blood purification apparatus (100) can adjust a fluid level by storing a priming fluid (10) in a vein-side air trap chamber (117) while a vein connector (119) is connected to a connection port (161), a vein-side on/off valve (112v) is closed, and a section on a downstream side of the vein-side air trap chamber (117) in a vein-side blood circuit (112) is replaced with air in a priming process.