Antiseptic Cap Strip Packaging With Dual Seals for Catheter Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chronic venous catheters face challenges such as occlusion due to thrombosis and infection risks, necessitating improved catheter lock techniques and devices to enhance safety and efficacy during infusion and between uses.
Innovation Solution
A package for a cap assembly featuring an outer and inner seal, with an antiseptic cap containing a sidewall chamber and antiseptic substance, designed to enhance the seal between the cap and the access site of a central venous catheter, and includes features to prevent relative rotation between the cap and plunger assembly, ensuring secure engagement and minimizing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cap assembly with dual seals is used to secure the catheter access site, then the reliability and protection against contamination is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into two separate seals: an outer seal that engages with the cap holder and an inner seal that engages with the antiseptic cap. This segmentation allows each seal to perform its specific function independently, with the outer seal providing primary containment and the inner seal providing secondary protection, thereby improving overall reliability without requiring a completely redesigned complex system
Solution Approach 2:
The inner seal is positioned within the cap holder structure, nested between the outer seal and the antiseptic cap. This nesting arrangement allows the dual-seal system to be compact while maintaining the protective benefits of multiple seals, reducing the overall device complexity compared to a side-by-side configuration
2Reliability
If features to prevent relative rotation are added between cap and plunger assembly, then the reliability of engagement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation features utilize asymmetric geometries where the cap and plunger assembly have corresponding irregular shapes that mate together. This asymmetry prevents relative rotation between components while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as the anti-rotation function is integrated into the basic engagement geometry rather than being a separate added feature
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-rotation features are merged with the basic cap and plunger assembly structures. The cap includes integrated anti-rotation elements that are part of its overall design, and the plunger assembly has corresponding features built into its structure. This merging approach provides reliable engagement stability without requiring separate, additional anti-rotation devices that would increase complexity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a thread cover is added to the antiseptic cap, then the protection against contamination is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thread cover is made from a flexible, deformable material that can be easily formed and applied to the cap. This flexible shell structure provides effective contamination protection by covering the threads and sealing interfaces, while its material properties allow it to be integrated into the cap with minimal additional complexity compared to rigid protective structures
Data Source
AI summary
A syringe assembly includes (1) a syringe barrel defining a chamber; (2) a plunger mounted in the chamber and moveable with respect to the barrel; and (3) a cap assembly containing a cap and an absorbent material is removably attached to the plunger. A strip package includes at least two cap assemblies. Each of the cap assemblies includes a cap holder and an antiseptic cap positioned in the cap holder. The antiseptic cap includes a sidewall defining a chamber and an antiseptic substance within the chamber. A strip extends over at least two cap assemblies. The strip includes a first seal engaged to the cap holder and a second seal engaged to the antiseptic cap.