Asymmetric Medicament Connector Preventing Incorrect Infusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medicament infusion systems face the risk of incorrect medicament administration due to the potential for mistaken connection of conduits and tubings, which can lead to serious harm, especially when the wrong type of medication is infused.
Innovation Solution
A specialized connector system is designed to prevent incorrect connections by using connectors that are incompatible with standard luer connectors, ensuring that only complementary connectors can be mated, thus preventing the infusion of the wrong medicament.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard luer connectors are used for all conduits, then ease of manufacture and compatibility are improved, but the risk of mistaken connection and medication errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing connectors with different configurations for different conduit types. Specifically, the epidural catheter connector has a unique asymmetric design that is incompatible with standard luer connectors, while chemotherapy tubing uses a different connector configuration. This asymmetric design ensures that connectors can only be mated with their complementary counterparts, preventing mistaken connections while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized production processes for each connector type.
2Reliability
If different connector configurations are used for different conduits, then medication administration safety is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the connector system into distinct, type-specific connector configurations. Each conduit type (epidural catheter, chemotherapy tubing, etc.) has its own dedicated connector design. This segmentation isolates the complexity into manageable, standardized components that can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability through incompatible connector designs that prevent incorrect connections.
3Reliability
If different connector configurations are used for different conduits, then medication administration safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service through a self-checking connector design where the physical configuration of connectors and receptacles automatically prevents incorrect mating. The asymmetric designs ensure that only the correct connector can be inserted into its complementary receptacle, providing built-in error prevention that requires no additional operator training or cognitive effort. This self-service mechanism maintains ease of operation by making correct connection the only physically possible outcome.
Data Source
AI summary
A drug delivery system has a fluid store that has a first tubing having an outlet fitted with a connector of a given configuration that prevents the connector from being coupled to a conventional counterpart connector. The system further has a tube retaining device that has a catheter extending out of one of its ends and an inlet connector at its other end that has a configuration complementary to the configuration of the outlet connector of the first tubing, so that the first tubing may be matingly connected to the tube retaining device to establish a through fluid path from the first tubing to the catheter. A one-way valve may be provided to the tubing to prevent fluid from flowing backwards into the tubing. The tubing can be selectively occluded and opened to regulate the flow of fluid from the tubing to the catheter.