Surgical Cryoprobe Vented Connector Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical instruments, particularly those requiring fluid supply like cryosurgical instruments, face challenges in maintaining sterility and preventing fluid leaks, which can lead to pressure buildup and damage during sterilization and use.

Innovation Solution

A medical instrument connector with a flat plug design featuring multiple fluid plugs and a ventilation opening on the same end face, allowing for secure fluid supply and discharge while preventing pressure buildup and allowing for easy sterilization by sealing with a cap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional robust turned parts are used for instrument plugs to prevent uncontrolled fluid escape, then fluid containment reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid containment reliabilityVSAvoidplug structural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument plug is divided into distinct functional components: a body portion with fluid channels and a separate flat end face with ventilation opening. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the body for fluid containment and the end face for pressure relief - reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A ventilation opening acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sealed interior and the external environment. It provides controlled pressure relief without compromising the hermetic seal of fluid channels, resolving the contradiction between maintaining seal integrity and preventing pressure buildup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the instrument is designed with hermetically sealed fluid channels for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but risk of pressure buildup from fluid leaks increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidpressure buildup risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation opening serves as a safety intermediary that allows pressure equalization. It enables the instrument to maintain hermetic sealing for sterilization while providing a controlled path for pressure relief in case of fluid leaks, preventing dangerous pressure buildup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation opening provides beforehand cushioning by preparing a pressure relief path in advance. Before any potential fluid leak can cause dangerous pressure buildup, the ventilation opening is already in place to accommodate and safely discharge leaked fluids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a lateral ventilation opening is attached to the plug for fluid discharge, then safety against fluid accumulation is improved, but sterilization difficulty increases due to potential liquid penetration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid accumulation safetyVSAvoidsterilization ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation opening is merged into the same flat end face as the fluid plugs rather than being a separate lateral attachment. This integration allows a single cap to simultaneously seal both the fluid connection points and the ventilation opening, simplifying the sterilization process while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flat end face design provides multi-functionality by accommodating both fluid plugs and ventilation opening in a unified structure. This allows a single sealing cap to perform multiple functions - sealing fluid channels and venting openings simultaneously - making sterilization easier while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple fluid plugs are arranged on the instrument plug for fluid supply and discharge, then functional versatility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid handling versatilityVSAvoidplug manufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple fluid plugs and the ventilation opening are merged into a single flat end face structure. This consolidation allows all components to be manufactured as one integrated piece rather than assembled from multiple separate parts, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the versatility of handling multiple fluids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2630982B1Surgical cryoprobe instrument and vented connector for same

Publication Date: 2017.04.05 ERBE ELEKTROMEDIZIN GMBH

AI summary

The medical instrument (10) has an instrument head (12), and a supply line (14) that comprises a fluid line for supplying a fluid and a jacket (23). The fluid line is configured to extend through an interior space of the jacket. A male instrument connector (11) is provided with a face, and a male fluid connector is in fluid communication with the fluid line arranged on the face. A venting opening is in communication with the interior space of the jacket arranged on the face of the male fluid connector.