Braided Tubular Sleeve Fastener With Interference Fit Clip
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical fasteners for securing medical lines, such as catheters and endotracheal tubes, often fail to provide secure and reliable anchoring, especially for extended periods, leading to potential displacement and complications, and pose challenges in hygiene management.
Innovation Solution
A fastener system comprising an elongate braided tubular sleeve with collars and a clip mechanism that provides a secure interference fit, allowing for easy engagement and release, with mechanical feedback and audible confirmation, and can be attached using sutures or adhesive for secure positioning on a patient's skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fastener uses a secure interference fit mechanism with collar and clip, then the reliability of line anchoring is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is divided into distinct functional segments: a braided tubular sleeve for receiving the line, a collar that fits over the sleeve end, and a separate clip that engages with the collar. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is designed to fit over the end of the braided tubular sleeve, creating a nested structure where the collar contains the sleeve end. This nested arrangement provides secure anchoring through the interference fit between the collar and sleeve while keeping the overall structure compact and manageable.
2Ease of operation
If the fastener uses an elongate braided tubular sleeve for receiving the line, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of secure anchoring worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The braided tubular sleeve is made from flexible material that can easily expand and contract to accommodate the medical line during insertion and removal. This flexibility provides ease of operation while the braided structure maintains sufficient structural integrity to support reliable anchoring when the collar and clip are engaged.
3Reliability
If the fastener is designed for secure anchoring over extended periods, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of repair and adjustment worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is designed with resiliently deformable material that allows it to dynamically adjust during engagement with the collar. The interference fit mechanism provides secure long-term anchoring through friction and mechanical interlocking, while the deformable nature of the clip enables easy release and adjustment when needed by applying force to overcome the interference fit.
4Reliability
If the clip is made resiliently deformable to provide interference fit, then the reliability of engagement is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The clip's material properties are changed to be resiliently deformable, allowing it to elastically deform during engagement with the collar. This parameter change in material behavior compensates for variations in manufacturing tolerances, enabling reliable interference fit engagement without requiring extremely tight precision control during manufacturing.
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 ensures secure anchoring of medical lines, preventing accidental displacement and facilitating easy adjustment and replacement, while maintaining hygiene by allowing for quick and secure attachment and detachment.
Implementation Method 1
The clip may be configured to provide an interference fit between the collar and the clip. The interference fit of the collar with the clip may be caused by mechanical deformation of at least one of the collar and the clip.
Implementation Method 2
The interference fit of the collar with the clip may be caused by mechanical deformation of at least one of the collar and the clip.
Implementation Method 3
The clip may comprise hook and loop material, and the collar comprise complimentary hook and loop material, so that the collar can be releasably coupled to the clip.
Implementation Method 4
The clip may comprise a strap which is adapted to pass over the collar to secure the collar to the clip.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A fastener for securing a medical or surgical line with respect to a patient is described. The fastener comprises an elongate braided tubular sleeve for receiving the line therethrough, the sleeve having a first end for fixing adjacent to the patient and a second end for arranging proximal to medical equipment coupled to the line, a substantially rigid collar coupled to the sleeve at the first end of the sleeve, an attachment member for securing the fastener with respect to the patient, and a clip coupled to the attachment member. The clip is configured to receive the collar to secure the collar to the clip, and toenable the collar to be released from the clip.