Angiography Injector Air Bubble Suspension Vortex Chamber
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure fluid injection systems in medical procedures face challenges in preventing the delivery of air bubbles to patients, as air compresses and expands rapidly when pressure is released, potentially leading to patient harm and inaccurate fluid flow measurements.
Innovation Solution
An air bubble suspension apparatus is designed with a housing and internal chamber that creates a fluid vortex, temporarily suspending air bubbles and delaying their passage through the system, using a combination of curved internal walls, adjustable valves, and a screen to manage fluid flow and air bubble movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-pressure fluid injection is performed to deliver medical fluids at required flow rates, then fluid delivery efficiency is improved, but air bubbles compress and expand rapidly causing patient harm and measurement inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The air detector is positioned upstream to detect air bubbles before they enter the high-pressure injection system. The system performs preliminary detection and triggers valve closure before air bubbles can cause harm during high-pressure delivery, resolving the contradiction by preventing the harmful effect while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary detection system (air detector) and control mechanism (valve) are introduced between the fluid source and the injection point. This intermediary layer monitors for air bubbles and interrupts flow when detected, preventing air bubble expansion during high-pressure injection while allowing efficient fluid delivery when the fluid is clear.
2Reliability
If air detection is implemented to prevent air bubble injection, then patient safety is improved, but the system complexity increases due to additional sensors and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The air detection and control functionality is extracted as a separate, modular subsystem that can be independently implemented. The air detector and valve control are distinct components that can be added to existing injection systems without redesigning the entire system, improving patient safety while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring through the air detector that automatically triggers valve closure when air is detected. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex external control systems and manual monitoring, improving patient safety through automated protection while keeping the control architecture relatively simple.
3Manufacturing precision
If valve closure is delayed to allow complete fluid delivery, then fluid delivery accuracy is improved, but air bubbles may reach the patient before valve closure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The air detector performs preliminary detection of air bubbles upstream in the fluid path. When air is detected, the valve closes in advance before the air bubble can reach the injection point, preventing patient harm. This preliminary action allows the system to prioritize safety over complete fluid delivery in air-contaminated scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The air detector provides continuous feedback about the presence of air bubbles in the fluid path. This feedback loop enables real-time monitoring and automatic valve control, allowing the system to dynamically adjust between prioritizing fluid delivery accuracy (when fluid is clear) and prioritizing patient safety (when air is detected).
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
Effectively prevents air bubbles from reaching the patient by delaying their passage and allowing for timely closure of valves, ensuring accurate fluid delivery and patient safety during high-pressure injections.
Implementation Method 1
The internal chamber is configured to create an internal fluid vortex in an injection fluid entering the internal chamber from the inlet fluid pathway, and wherein the internal fluid vortex at least temporarily suspends one or more air bubbles in the fluid in the internal vortex and delays the passage of the one or more air bubbles to the outlet fluid pathway.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for suspending air bubbles in a fluid path of a fluid injector system includes an internal chamber having a curved interior wall defined within the housing, an inlet fluid pathway in fluid communication with the internal chamber, and an outlet fluid pathway in fluid communication with the internal chamber. The inlet fluid pathway extending into the chamber at a tangent to the curved interior wall, and the outlet fluid pathway spaced from the inlet fluid pathway such that fluid flowing into the internal chamber via the inlet fluid pathway is directed away from the outlet fluid pathway. The internal chamber is configured to create an internal fluid vortex in an injection fluid entering the internal chamber from the inlet fluid pathway, and wherein the internal fluid vortex at least temporarily suspends one or more air bubbles in the fluid in the internal vortex and delays the passage of the one or more air bubbles to the outlet fluid pathway.