Air Venting Meter Lid Adapter for Fluid Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid drainage systems face challenges in removing columnized fluid from drainage tubing, leading to back-pressure, inaccurate measurements, and increased risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections due to insufficient airflow, which also causes inflation of collection bags.
Innovation Solution
A fluid drainage system with a removable adapter that includes a gas suction line and port configured to couple with the collection container's vent, allowing for efficient removal of gas and preventing bag inflation, utilizing a sliding or rotational mechanism for secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a high flow-rate of air is used to transport trapped fluid, then fluid removal efficiency is improved, but the collection bag undesirably inflates
Solution Approach 1:
A gas suction line with port is introduced as an intermediary component to remove excess air from the collection bag. The suction line connects to the bag and actively removes gas that enters during high-flow fluid transport, enabling high productivity without bag inflation
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards excess gas from the collection bag through the suction line while retaining and collecting the valuable fluid. This selective removal allows continuous operation at high flow rates without compromising bag volume constraints
2Volume of stationary object
If a low flow-rate of air is used to transport fluid, then bag inflation is prevented, but fluid removal efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gas suction line acts as a mediator that decouples the relationship between fluid transport rate and bag inflation. It allows the system to operate at high flow rates by actively managing gas removal, thus improving productivity without sacrificing volume control
Solution Approach 2:
The suction line is pre-positioned and connected before high-flow transport begins, enabling immediate gas removal capability. This preliminary preparation ensures that gas can be removed as soon as it enters the bag, maintaining volume control throughout the high-productivity operation
3Device complexity
If passive vent ports are used to expel air, then device complexity is reduced, but gas removal effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The passive mechanical vent port is replaced with an active gas removal system using suction. This substitution increases gas removal effectiveness by replacing reliance on pressure differentials with active vacuum-driven removal, while the suction line remains a relatively simple component
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively removes gas from the collection container, preventing bag inflation and enhancing fluid measurement accuracy while reducing the risk of infections by ensuring complete fluid drainage.
Implementation Method 1
a gas suction line and a removable adapter. The gas suction line is configured to remove gas from the collection container through the removable adapter
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid collection device includes a fluid collection container and an adapter. The fluid collection container includes a vent. The adapter is configured to removably couple with the fluid collection container over the vent. The adapter includes a connecting portion and a port attachable to the connecting portion. The port has a non-sealed position and a sealed position with respect to the vent when the connecting portion is coupled to the fluid connection container and positioned over the vent. In the non-sealed position the vent is in fluid communication with a surrounding environment.