Connector Assembly Tension Release and Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulse oximetry connector assemblies are prone to damage from stress, leading to costly replacements of patient cables due to accidental disconnections or jerking, and often lack sufficient shielding for detector signals, resulting in noise-induced errors.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly design that allows for easy and efficient connection and disconnection of sensor and patient cables with a tension release mechanism to prevent damage and incorporates enhanced shielding to protect detector signals, reducing unshielded areas and noise interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hinged-plastic retainer is used to prevent accidental disconnections, then connection reliability is improved, but the retainer becomes damaged under stress requiring replacement of the entire patient cable
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is divided into a two-part structure: a first retainer portion attached to the sensor connector and a second retainer portion attached to the patient cable connector. These portions can separate from each other under stress, allowing the sensor (with its retainer portion) to be replaced independently of the patient cable (with its retainer portion), thus reducing replacement costs while maintaining connection reliability during normal use
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer structure has different properties in different locations: the first and second retainer portions are designed to be connected under normal conditions to provide strong connection reliability, but are designed to separate at a specific interface when excessive stress is applied, enabling selective replacement of only the sensor assembly rather than the entire cable
2Stability of the object's composition
If the retainer is designed to be strong to prevent disconnection, then connection stability is improved, but the retainer damages under accidental stress
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer transitions from a static, permanently connected structure to a dynamic, conditionally connected structure. Under normal operating conditions, the first and second retainer portions remain connected to maintain stable connections. When excessive stress is applied, the retainer dynamically separates at the interface between portions, allowing the system to adapt to abnormal conditions and prevent damage propagation
Solution Approach 2:
The two-part retainer design anticipates potential damage from accidental stress by providing a predetermined separation point. When excessive force is applied, the retainer portions can separate rather than causing damage to the entire assembly, thus cushioning against the harmful effects of accidental stress before they can propagate
3Measurement precision
If unshielded areas are reduced to minimize noise, then signal integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer portions serve dual functions: they provide mechanical connection stability and simultaneously act as shielding structures that cover unshielded areas around the electrical contacts. By merging the mechanical retention function with the electromagnetic shielding function into a single component structure, the patent reduces unshielded areas to improve signal integrity without proportionally increasing device complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
A connector assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure is advantageously configured to allow a sensor connector to straightforwardly and efficiently join with and detach from a patient cable connector. Further, embodiments of the connector assembly advantageously reduce unshielded area in an electrical connection between a patient cable and a sensor connector. In addition, embodiments of the connector assembly advantageously increase the shielding of detector signals coming from the patient sensor to the monitor.