Medical Closure Cap Cone Breaking Point Spike Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical container closure caps face challenges in maintaining sterility and integrity, particularly in accommodating different spike geometries without the need for expensive rubber washers, while ensuring reliable sealing and preventing contamination and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A closure cap made of hard plastic with a combined injection and withdrawal system, featuring a cone-shaped removal port with a predetermined breaking point and a cylindrical injection port, both equipped with membranes for sealing, and a protective film to indicate integrity and prevent accidental openings, allowing use with various spike sizes without external sealing elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rubber washers are used to seal the removal port for different spike geometries, then adaptability to different spikes is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the rubber washer component entirely from the sealing mechanism. Instead of using a separate sealing element, the closure cap integrates the sealing function directly into the hard plastic cone structure through a predetermined breaking point that creates a seal when the spike is inserted.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the sealing mechanism from a flexible material-based system (rubber washer) to a rigid material-based system (hard plastic with breaking point). The hard plastic cone maintains its shape and sealing properties without requiring deformation or flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rubber washers are used to accommodate different spike sizes, then versatility is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the rubber washer component from the assembly, replacing it with an integrated hard plastic sealing structure that reduces part count and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hard plastic cone with breaking point serves multiple functions: structural support, sealing, and spike retention. This single component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate parts including the rubber washer.
3Strength
If hard granulate is used for the closure cap, then stability and structural integrity are improved, but the ability to hold and seal on the spike without soft materials is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the sealing approach from relying on material softness and deformation to relying on precise geometric features. The predetermined breaking point in the hard plastic cone creates a mechanical interlock and seal through its specific shape and fracture characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The predetermined breaking point acts as an intermediary feature between the hard plastic cone and the spike. This breaking point creates a sealing surface and retention mechanism that allows the rigid cone to effectively seal and hold the spike without requiring soft sealing materials.
4Reliability
If a protective film is added to indicate integrity and prevent accidental openings, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective film provides visual indication of integrity through its presence or absence. The film can be designed with color changes or visual features that clearly indicate whether the closure has been opened or tampered with.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective film is applied in advance to the closure cap before use. This preliminary protective layer prevents accidental openings and provides a clear visual indicator of the closure's integrity status before the actual sealing function is engaged.
Data Source
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AI summary
A closure cap (1) for a medical container (4), for example a medical bag or a medical bottle, which comprises an injection port (10) and a withdrawal port (30). The withdrawal port (30) is designed as a tapering cone (32) which reaches into the interior of the closure cap (1) and, in the region of its tip, has at least one predetermined breaking point (35) which can be opened by a customary spike. Furthermore, a sealing lip (40) is provided on a region on the inner surface of the cone (32), said sealing lip securing the closure cap (1) against the bag contents (5) escaping while the spike (50) is being driven in (51). In particular, the closure cap (1) can be used with various spikes (50), such as are customary in clinical-medical use.