Wearable Artificial Kidney Alert Handling for Continuous Dialysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial kidneys require patients to attend clinics for dialysis, are not portable, and cannot be used while ambulating or lying down, necessitating fixed positions and potential interruptions due to procedural issues.
Innovation Solution
A wearable artificial kidney system that includes a garment, blood circuits, stopcocks, a blood pump, and a controller, enabling automatic or semi-automatic priming, procedure running, purging, flushing, and alert event detection with timer-based resolution, allowing use at home and during ambulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing artificial kidneys are used in clinics with fixed procedures, then dialysis can be performed with trained practitioners available, but patients must attend clinics away from home and remain in fixed positions
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial kidney system is divided into separate functional modules including a blood pump, hemofilter, dialysate pump, and control unit that can be distributed and worn on different parts of the patient's body, enabling mobility while maintaining full dialysis functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a fixed clinic-based stationary setup to a wearable configuration that distributes components across the patient's body in three-dimensional space, allowing movement in multiple directions while performing dialysis
2Productivity
If dialysis procedures are performed intermittently at clinics, then trained practitioners can address problems, but patients cannot be treated continuously between appointments
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable artificial kidney enables continuous dialysis treatment that can operate uninterrupted between traditional clinic appointments, maintaining therapeutic action continuously rather than intermittently, thereby improving overall dialysis efficacy and reducing time loss between treatments
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes automated monitoring and alert mechanisms that allow the device to detect and respond to procedural issues independently, reducing the need for continuous practitioner supervision and enabling unsupervised continuous operation
3Reliability
If manual monitoring of dialysis procedures is used, then practitioners can detect problems, but procedures must be restarted if issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors and monitoring devices that continuously detect procedural parameters and alert events, providing real-time feedback to the control unit which can automatically adjust operations or alert the patient, ensuring reliable continuous operation without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial kidney system automatically detects and responds to alert events through programmed protocols, managing its own operation and problem resolution without requiring practitioner intervention, thereby maintaining procedure continuity and improving reliability
4Reliability
If disposable components are replaced when procedures are restarted, then contamination is prevented, but time and resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The automated alert response system prevents procedure interruptions and disposable replacements by detecting and resolving issues during continuous operation, eliminating the time loss associated with restarting procedures and replacing components while maintaining infection control through continuous monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial kidney configured to automatically or semi-automatically perform priming, procedure running, purging, flushing, and procedure ending. The artificial kidney is wearable and can be used while ambulating, sitting, and lying down. The artificial kidney can be used at home as a supplement to standard intermittent hemodialysis therapy in the clinic. In an example, the artificial kidney can be configured to perform alert event detection, start a timer, and take steps to resolving the alert event. The steps can include automated steps and can include instructions to be manually performed by the user (or the patient). If the alert event is resolved within a set time, the artificial kidney can continue to perform procedure running. If the alert event is not resolved within the set time, the artificial kidney performs the procedure ending.