Concentric Double-Lumen Tube Coupling for Kink-Resistant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing double lumen tube coupling systems face challenges in maintaining sustained fluid flow and ease of connection due to the radial movement of the interior flexible tube within the exterior flexible tube, leading to potential kinking and difficulties in mating tubes and connection pieces.
Innovation Solution
A tube coupling system featuring a flexible annular double lumen tube with a concentric interior and exterior pipe arrangement, where the interior flexible tube can move radially without struts or spacers, and end fittings that allow for easy connection and customization of tube lengths, ensuring consistent fluid flow and secure coupling without kinking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the interior flexible tube is allowed to move radially inside the exterior flexible tube without struts or spacers, then the combined exterior volume is reduced and the exterior surface is well-defined, but the tube may kink and sustained fluid flow cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible membranes or thin film structures between the interior and exterior tubes to maintain the annular gap without rigid struts. These flexible elements prevent kinking while allowing radial movement and maintaining a well-defined exterior surface, resolving the contradiction between volume reduction and flow reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The interior tube is designed to be dynamically movable within the exterior tube without fixed radial constraints. The system allows the interior tube to shift radially as needed while maintaining fluid flow through the annular gap, achieving both flexibility and sustained flow through dynamic adaptation rather than static rigid support.
2Ease of operation
If the interior flexible tube is loosely arranged inside the exterior flexible tube to prevent kinking, then the tube is more flexible and less vulnerable to kinking, but the cross-sectional flow area may vary due to radial movement
Solution Approach 1:
Flexible membrane elements are used to maintain the annular flow channel geometry while allowing the interior tube to move radially. These films provide gentle radial support that prevents excessive displacement and maintains relatively stable cross-sectional flow area while preserving the flexibility and kink resistance of the loose arrangement.
3Reliability
If annularly arranged tubes are coupled to annularly arranged connection pieces, then the fluid communication is established, but patients experience problems mating tubes and connection pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional coupling approach by having the connection pieces on the annular catheter mate with corresponding fittings on the flexible tubes in a reversed configuration. This inversion simplifies the mating process by aligning the connection interfaces more naturally, reducing the difficulty of coupling while maintaining reliable fluid communication between the annular flow channels.
Data Source
AI summary
A tube coupling component (4;6) serves for use in a tube coupling system and an irrigation system. The tube coupling component (4;6) comprises a male coupling part (12) opposite a respective female coupling part (11), or a first end fitting (33) opposite a respective second end fitting (34), which tube coupling component (4;6) has an interior pipe (13;31) that extends axially inside an exterior pipe (14;32), wherein the interior pipe (13;31) and the exterior pipe (14;32) are concentric.