Breakaway Connector Frangible Member Tension Threshold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices, such as catheters and tubes, are prone to accidental removal due to patient mobility, leading to adverse events like dermal abrasions, vasculature damage, and hemorrhaging, as existing securement methods fail to withstand the forces applied during patient movement.
Innovation Solution
A breakaway connector device is introduced that allows a sealed liquid connection between medical tubing segments, which disengages when a specific tension threshold is applied, preventing premature removal by activating and separating before adhesive failure, while maintaining sterility and preventing fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive or suture securement methods are used to attach medical devices to patient skin, then the device can be secured in place, but the securement fails when force exceeds the threshold of skin composition and surface area, leading to accidental removal
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into a proximal portion and a distal portion connected by a frangible member that can break at a predetermined location. This segmentation allows the connector to fail in a controlled manner before the adhesive securement fails, preventing the harmful effect of forceful device removal while maintaining reliable attachment during normal use.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a breakaway connector with a frangible member is introduced to prevent accidental device removal, then tissue damage is prevented upon connector failure, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible member is integrated into the connector structure as an inherent component rather than a separate safety device. The proximal and distal portions of the connector are united by this frangible member, creating a unified structure that provides both connection functionality and controlled failure protection, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining tissue damage prevention.
3Reliability
If the frangible member is designed to break at a predetermined location to activate closure members, then fluid leakage is prevented, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure reliable breakage at the correct position
Solution Approach 1:
The closure members are pre-positioned in a biased closed state before the frangible member breaks. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the frangible member does break at the predetermined location, the closure members are already in place to immediately prevent fluid leakage, reducing the precision requirements for the breakage position while maintaining reliable fluid containment.
4Loss of substance
If the closure members are biased toward a closed position to prevent fluid leakage upon breakage, then fluid loss is minimized, but the device complexity increases due to additional spring mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The closure members are designed to automatically transition to the closed position through their inherent bias when the frangible member breaks, without requiring external actuation or complex control systems. This self-service mechanism prevents fluid loss through simple elastic recovery, minimizing device complexity while achieving reliable fluid containment.
Data Source
AI summary
A breakaway connector apparatus for joining a first tubing section to a second tubing section includes a first member and a second member positioned axially opposite the first member. The second member includes a male portion extending from the second member. A housing is disposed between the first and second members, the housing including a socket shaped to receive the male portion of the second member. An axial passage provides a flow path defined inside the housing between the first and second members. A stem is disposed in the axial passage between the first and second members. A first valve is disposed on the first or second member, and the stem engages the first valve and opens the first valve to allow flow between the first and second members through the axial passage when the male portion of the second member is fully received in the socket of the housing.