Water Purification Filter Monitoring for Leak and Clog Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water purification systems for kidney disease treatments face challenges in monitoring bioburden levels and filter integrity, leading to potential clogging or leaks in sterilizing grade filters, which are not effectively detected by current manual testing methods.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for evaluating the condition of a water purification system by monitoring flow rate and pressure correlated with sterilizing grade filters, using a ratio of these parameters to detect leaks or clogging, and activating alarms or stopping output when dysfunction criteria are met, allowing continuous online monitoring without additional hardware.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If periodic microbial testing is performed to check bioburden quality, then water quality assurance is improved, but testing cost and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater quality assuranceVSAvoidtesting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces periodic manual microbial testing with continuous automated monitoring using pressure sensors and flow rate sensors. The system continuously measures pressure drop across the sterilizing grade filter and flow rate through the filter, calculating a performance index that indicates filter condition and potential bioburden issues in real-time, eliminating the need for time-consuming periodic microbial tests

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous monitoring of filter performance parameters (pressure and flow rate) throughout operation, rather than relying on discrete periodic tests. This continuous measurement approach provides ongoing assurance of water quality and filter condition, detecting issues immediately when they arise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Reliability

If sterilizing grade filters are used to remove bioburden, then water purification effectiveness is improved, but filter clogging and leaks occur reducing system reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater purification effectivenessVSAvoidfilter clogging and leaks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors pressure drop across the sterilizing grade filter and flow rate through the filter, calculating a performance index that provides feedback on filter condition. When the performance index indicates approaching clogging or potential leaks, the system can alert operators to replace the filter proactively, maintaining purification effectiveness while preventing harmful clogging and leak conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system detects early signs of filter degradation through continuous monitoring of pressure and flow rate parameters before actual clogging or leaks occur. By calculating the performance index in real-time, the system enables preliminary intervention (filter replacement) before harmful conditions develop, maintaining water purification effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If manual bubble point test or pressure decay test is performed to test filter integrity, then leak detection capability is improved, but testing can only be done after batch production increasing downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter integrity detectionVSAvoidsystem availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs continuous monitoring of filter integrity during normal water production operations by measuring pressure drop and flow rate through the sterilizing grade filter. This eliminates the need to stop production for separate integrity testing, as the monitoring occurs concurrently with batch production, maintaining both detection capability and system availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the filter integrity monitoring function with the normal water production operation. The same pressure and flow rate measurements used for production control are also used to calculate the performance index for leak detection, merging two functions into a single integrated system that maintains productivity while ensuring filter integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250282648A1Method and an apparatus for evaluating a condition of a water purification system

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 BAXTER INT INC

AI summary

A method is disclosed for evaluating a condition of an apparatus arranged to output a fluid through an outlet port and through at least one sterilizing grade filter of a line set fluidly connected to the outlet port. The method includes monitoring a flow rate correlated with a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the at least one sterilizing grade filter, monitoring a pressure correlated with a pressure of the fluid flowing to the at least one sterilizing grade filter, and evaluating a condition of the apparatus based on a relationship between the monitored flow rate and the monitored pressure.