Wireless Fluid Supply Control for Hygienic Medical Device Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical device fluid supply systems are cumbersome and require direct actuation, leading to inefficiencies and increased risk of contamination due to physical connections.

Innovation Solution

A wireless actuating unit system that allows remote control of fluid supply parameters through a transmitter and receiver connection, eliminating the need for direct physical connections and enabling easier and more controlled fluid supply management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a wireless actuating unit is used to control fluid supply, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical actuation systems with a wireless actuating unit that uses electromagnetic signals (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) to control fluid supply parameters. The actuating unit communicates wirelessly with the supply system, eliminating the need for direct mechanical connections and manual adjustment mechanisms, thereby improving ease of operation while introducing electronic control complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If direct physical connections are used for actuation, then reliability is improved, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the actuation function from the fluid supply system by using a separate wireless actuating unit. The actuating unit transmits control signals wirelessly to the supply system, removing direct physical connections between the actuator and the fluid pathway, thereby eliminating contamination risk while maintaining control reliability through wireless communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple actuating units are used to control different devices, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the actuating unit as a universal device that can control multiple different medical devices through wireless communication. The actuating unit maintains a database of target devices and can switch between controlling different fluid supply systems, eliminating the need for multiple specialized actuators and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12440413B2Supply system and process for supplying a medical device with a fluid, comprising a wireless actuating unit

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 DRAGERWERK AG

AI summary

A supply system (1) and process supply a medical device with a fluid. A fluid supply port (3, 4, 5) of a supply unit (2) provides a fluid. An actuating unit (6a, 6b) detects an actuation of an actuating element (7a, 7b) and generates a message containing actuation information, which identifies the actuation. The message is transmitted via a wireless data connection (Dv) from a transmitter (8) of the actuating unit (6a, 6b) to a receiver (9) of the supply unit (2). The supply unit (2) changes a parameter of the fluid supply port (3, 4, 5), which influences the provision of fluid, in response to the reception of this message.