Adapter for Multi-Lumen Tube Diameter Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The insertion of multiple tubes into the human body for artificial organs, such as artificial hearts, results in increased diameter and strain due to dead spaces and the need for complex device design modifications to facilitate fluid flow and electrical connections.
Innovation Solution
An adapter that connects a multi-lumen tube with oddly formed lumens to a single tube, using attachment members with matching ports and cutouts to allow for communication of passages and easy electrical wire routing, reducing the overall diameter and strain while maintaining functionality without altering the artificial organ design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple tubes are inserted into the human body for artificial organs, then fluid transport and electrical connections can be established, but the diameter increases and strain on the human body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate tubes (fluid tubes and electrical wire bundles) into a single integrated multi-lumen tube structure. This merging eliminates dead spaces between separate tubes and reduces the overall diameter of the assembly while maintaining all necessary fluid transport and electrical connection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where electrical wires are positioned within lumens of the multi-lumen tube, and multiple lumens are arranged concentrically or in a compact pattern. This nesting approach maximizes space utilization and minimizes the external diameter of the tube assembly.
2Ease of operation
If tubes are built into an outer tube, then the number of inserting openings is reduced, but dead spaces occur in the diameter direction and the diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual tubes into a single multi-lumen tube with no internal dead spaces. This eliminates the problem of diameter increase caused by gaps between separate tubes while still providing multiple distinct passages for different fluids, thereby reducing the number of inserting openings needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs oddly formed or deformed transverse sections of lumens within the multi-lumen tube to optimize space utilization. By varying the shape and orientation of individual lumens locally, the design achieves compact packing without internal dead spaces while minimizing the overall external diameter.
3Area of stationary object
If a multi-lumen tube with oddly formed lumens is used, then the diameter is reduced, but the device design of artificial organs must be changed to allow fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the adapter with a standardized multi-lumen tube interface that can accommodate various artificial organ configurations. The adapter serves multiple functions: connecting different lumen patterns, providing sealing, and enabling fluid flow paths without requiring modifications to the artificial organ designs themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary component between the multi-lumen tube and the artificial organ. This adapter mediates the connection by providing the necessary interface and fluid flow paths, thereby eliminating the need to modify artificial organ designs while still achieving compact diameter reduction through the oddly formed lumens.
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter and its connection structure having a plurality of tubes bundled together as one that can be connected to be made shorter in the diameter direction to transport fluid to and from artificial organs and connect electric wires to the artificial organs without changing design of the artificial organs. The adapter and connecting structure connect multi-lumen and single tubes so their passages communicate with each other. The first attachment member, attached to the multi-lumen tube, includes first ports having an outer diameter substantially the same a lumen opening diameter at the end portion of the multi-lumen tube to fit into the lumen openings, and a first cutout corresponding to one of the lumen openings. The second attachment member, attached to the single tube, includes second ports that fit into the lumen of the single tube. The number of the first and second ports is the same.