Device and method for monitoring a mixing process
The present invention relates to a device for preparing a medical solution by mixing at least one liquid and at least one concentrate raw material, comprising a mixing container into which the at least one liquid and the at least one concentrate raw material can be fed, a control device, and a measuring device for measuring at least one parameter, preferably a density, of a mixture produced by means of the device during the mixing operation, and a corresponding method.
1 . A device for preparing a dialysate concentrate by mixing at least one liquid and at least one concentrate raw material, by means of or in a mixing container into which the at least one liquid and at least the one concentrate raw material are fed, a control device, and a measuring device for measuring a parameter of a mixture produced by means of the device during a mixing operation, wherein the measuring device is configured to carry out measurements continuously and/or online during the mixing operation carried out by means of the device, wherein the control device is configured to
operate the device for a first predetermined time span for carrying out the mixing operation,
compare parameter values measured by the measuring device with a setpoint value and, when the setpoint value or a tolerance range surrounding it is reached, to terminate the mixing operation carried out by means of the device and/or to issue an output to a user, and
when the setpoint value or a tolerance range surrounding it is not reached by the first predetermined time span, prolong the mixing operation once or multiple times by a second predetermined time span and/or to issue an output to a user, with which the user is requested to approve or instruct the prolongation of the mixing operation and/or to approve the mixture.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to control or regulate the operation of the device by carrying out the mixing operation on the basis of the parameter values generated by means of the measuring device and/or on the basis of trend analyses performed by it.
3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to discard a mixture produced by means of the device and/or to issue an output to a user that the produced mixture is to be discarded, when the parameter values measured continuously and/or online by the measuring device do not reach the setpoint value or the tolerance range surrounding it after a time span for carrying out the mixing operation has elapsed, and/or when a time course of the measured parameter values does not or not sufficiently approach or deviate from the setpoint value or the tolerance range during a predetermined time interval during the mixing operation.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring device is a flexural resonator through which the mixture produced by means of the device flows continuously.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring device is or comprises a device for measuring on the basis of a selective ion concentration, a device for measuring density by means of a volumetric measuring chamber and/or a mass, a device for measuring density by means of ultrasound or gamma rays, a device for measuring density by means of the Coriolis principle and/or a device for optical density measurement or for density measurement by means of refraction.
6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is further configured to electronically document the parameter values determined by means of the measuring device and/or their time histories, to file them in an electronic logbook and/or to transmit them to a further device.
7 . The device according to claim 6 , wherein the further device is a master display or a central database system.
8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter is a density.
9 . A method for monitoring a mixing operation for preparing a dialysate concentrate by mixing at least one liquid and at least one concentrate raw material, wherein the mixing operation is carried out by means of a device, the method comprising steps of:
measuring a parameter of a mixture produced by means of a measuring device associated with the device carrying out the mixing operation, wherein the device is operated for a first predetermined time span for carrying out the mixing operation;
comparing parameter values measured by the measuring device with a setpoint value and, when the setpoint value or a tolerance range surrounding it is reached, terminating a mixing operation carried out by means of the device and/or issuing an output to a user; and
prolonging the mixing operation once or multiple times by a second predetermined time span and/or issuing an output to a user, with which the user is requested to approve or instruct the prolongation of the mixing operation and/or to approve the mixture when the setpoint value or a tolerance range surrounding it is not reached by the first predetermined time span.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein measuring the parameter is carried out continuously and/or online.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising: using the parameter values detected by means of the measuring device in the context of a predictive maintenance of the device.
12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the predictive maintenance of the device comprises determining and/or scheduling times for repairs, replacement of components and/or recalibrations.
13 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising: controlling or regulating the operation of the device, comprising the mixing operation carried out by said device, on the basis of the parameter values detected by means of the measuring device.
14 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the device comprises a mixing container into which the at least one liquid and at least the one concentrate raw material is fed, a control device, and the measuring device for measuring the parameter.
15 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the parameter is a density.