Infusion Pump Cassette Latch With Guided Secure Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infusion pump latches fail to securely engage cassettes, leading to potential accidental disconnection of flexible tubing, which can disrupt the controlled delivery of beneficial agents to patients.

Innovation Solution

A latch assembly with a rotatable actuator, movable latch, and spring-biased release mechanism that securely engages the cassette within the infusion pump housing, using a magnet and sensor for closure detection, and constrains lateral movement to prevent accidental disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a latch assembly is designed to securely engage the cassette, then the reliability of fluid delivery is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of fluid deliveryVSAvoidcomplexity of latch assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latch assembly is divided into distinct functional components: a latch body with engagement features, a separate actuator mechanism, and a spring-biased release assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system reliability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-biased release assembly automatically engages and disengages the latch without requiring complex control systems. The spring provides automatic resetting and maintaining forces, enabling the latch to service itself through mechanical means rather than requiring external actuation for each state change.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the latch assembly includes additional securing mechanisms, then the prevention of accidental disconnection is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of accidental disconnectionVSAvoidease of cassette installation and removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The latch prongs are pre-positioned in an engaged state by the spring bias, ready to immediately secure the cassette upon insertion. This preliminary action ensures that security is established before the user completes the installation, preventing accidental disconnection during the operation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the user to actively secure the latch after cassette insertion, the design inverts the approach by having the latch automatically engage and secure the cassette as it is being inserted. The spring-biased mechanism provides the securing action, reversing the traditional user-initiated locking sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the latch uses a spring-biased release mechanism, then the reliability of engagement is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of latch engagementVSAvoidcomplexity of release mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-biased release mechanism extracts the complexity of maintaining engagement security from the user operation. By incorporating the spring mechanism into the latch assembly itself, the system automatically maintains reliable engagement without requiring external monitoring or control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The design replaces complex electronic or control-based engagement systems with a purely mechanical spring-biased mechanism. This mechanical substitution achieves reliable engagement through physical principles (spring force, mechanical advantage) rather than requiring complex control logic or multiple electronic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Ensures a secure and reliable engagement of the cassette, preventing unintended disconnection and maintaining consistent fluid delivery to patients.

Implementation Method 1

The example assembly in some implementations includes a magnet that is positioned such that a sensor in the pump housing detects whether the actuator is closed.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field interaction: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

A spring-biased release assembly holds the latch assembly closed and facilitates a secure engagement between the flexible tubing and the infusion pump.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring bias: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS12539360B2Latch for capturing and securing a cassette to a medical device

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 B BRAUN MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Systems and devices for controlling the delivery of a fluid are described. A latch assembly for guiding a cassette into the recess of an infusion pump housing includes a rotatable actuator connected to a movable latch. The movable latch includes one or more latch prongs that engage with the cassette. As the actuator is rotated toward its closed position, the latch prongs guide the cassette into the recess. A spring-biased release assembly holds the latch assembly closed and facilitates a secure engagement between the cassette and the recess, thereby holding the flexible tubing within the cassette in a secure engagement with the infusion pump. The latch assembly includes a magnet and a sensor in the pump housing to detect whether the latch assembly is closed.