Color-Changing Check Valve Diaphragm for Visual Patency Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional check valves in IV sets require disassembly to verify patency, which is inconvenient and lacks immediate visual indication of fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A check valve with a flexible diaphragm made of color-changing material, housed in a convex-shaped chamber that changes color when deformed by fluid flow, allowing visual confirmation of patency without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional check valve is used, then the valve structure is simple and reliable, but the patency verification requires disassembly and lacks immediate visual indication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-changing materials (such as pressure-sensitive pigments or liquid crystals) to the diaphragm surface. When fluid flow exerts pressure on the diaphragm, the material changes color to indicate patency. This provides immediate visual confirmation without requiring disassembly or separate pressure sensors, directly resolving the contradiction between reliable verification and ease of operation.
2Loss of information
If a color-changing material is added to the diaphragm, then visual indication of fluid flow is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the indicator function directly into the diaphragm by incorporating color-changing material into the diaphragm structure itself. This integration eliminates the need for separate pressure sensors, indicators, or additional components, thereby providing visual information while minimizing increases in device complexity.
3Reliability
If the IV line is opened to check the check valve, then patency can be verified, but fluid flow may be interrupted and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve performs self-indication of its patency status through the color-changing diaphragm. The valve monitors and communicates its own functional state without requiring external intervention or disassembly, thereby eliminating contamination risks and fluid flow interruption while maintaining verification accuracy.
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
Enables immediate visual confirmation of fluid flow through the check valve without the need for separate pressure sensors, ensuring patency verification without opening the IV line.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible diaphragm having a color changing material configured to exhibit a color change when the flexible diaphragm is one of bent, bowed and deformed by a fluid flow from the fluid inlet
Data Source
AI summary
A check valve includes an upper housing defining an inlet of the check valve, and a lower housing having a seating portion and defining an outlet of the check valve. The check valve further includes a chamber interposed between and defined by the upper and lower housings for fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet, and a flexible diaphragm mounted in the chamber. The flexible diaphragm selectively permits fluid flow in a first direction, and prevents fluid backflow in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The flexible diaphragm includes a color changing material, and when the flexible diaphragm is seated on the seating portion and bent due to force of the fluid flowing in the first direction, the flexible diaphragm exhibits a color change.