Dual-Chamber Syringe With Floating Stopper for Single-Syringe Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flush procedures for vascular accessing devices (VADs) require multiple syringes for administering medication and flushing, increasing the risk of catheter occlusion, infection, and operational inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A dual chamber syringe with a floating stopper that separates into primary and secondary fluid chambers, allowing simultaneous medication administration and flushing using a single syringe, facilitated by a bi-stable valve that opens and closes based on differential fluid pressure without physical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple syringes are used for medication administration and flushing, then the risk of catheter occlusion and infection increases, but the operational complexity and time required for procedures also increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate syringes (one for medication, one for flush solution) into a single dual-chamber syringe. The first chamber contains medication and the second chamber contains flush solution, allowing both functions to be performed with one device. This merging reduces the number of connections to the catheter, minimizing infection risk and maintaining catheter patency while simplifying the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single syringe device performs multiple functions: it can administer medication through the first chamber and perform flushing through the second chamber. The bi-stable valve mechanism enables the device to switch between different operational modes (medication delivery, flushing, mixing) without requiring separate devices, thereby improving reliability while reducing operational complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple syringes are used for medication and flush procedures, then the risk of infection increases due to multiple connections, but using a single syringe requires a more complex valve mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The bi-stable valve mechanism is designed to automatically transition between stable states based on fluid pressure differentials. When flush solution is introduced into the second chamber, the pressure change automatically triggers the valve to switch from the first stable state (medication delivery) to the second stable state (flushing), eliminating the need for manual valve operation and reducing the complexity of control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical valve control systems with a pressure-driven automatic switching mechanism. The bi-stable valve responds to fluid pressure differentials between chambers, using hydraulic principles rather than complex mechanical actuators or electronic controls to achieve state transitions, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining sterile connections.
3Ease of operation
If conventional flushing techniques are used with increasing or decreasing linear pressure, then the procedure is simple to control, but debris and residue build-up in catheters is not effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-chamber syringe enables periodic action by alternating between medication delivery and flushing phases. The bi-stable valve allows the system to switch between two distinct operational states, creating a periodic cycle of medication administration followed by flushing action. This periodic flushing effectively removes debris and residue that would accumulate during continuous medication delivery, maintaining catheter patency while keeping pressure control simple through the automatic valve switching.
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
Reduces the risk of catheter occlusion and infection by minimizing the need for multiple syringes, enhances clinician efficiency, and decreases costs associated with syringe inventory and waste disposal.
Implementation Method 1
buckling or flipping of the septum wall is caused solely by differential fluid pressure applied by the plunger without physical contact of the septum with any other structure within the syringe
Implementation Method 2
The septum wall forms a bi-stable valve, closing the central slit by compression in its meridial dimension when the septum is in a first, relaxed state, and opening the central slit when the septum is buckled under tension (i.e., flipped) in the meridial dimension in a second state
Data Source
AI summary
A dual chamber syringe facilitates selective drug mixing, dosing, and administration, as well as pre- or post-administration flushing with a single syringe instrument. A syringe barrel incorporates an outlet, as well as variable-volume, primary and secondary fluid chambers, separated by a floating stopper. The floating stopper defines a dome-shaped split septum with a central slit at its apex. The split septum is a bi-stable valve, closing the central slit by compression in its meridial dimension when the septum is in a first, relaxed state, and opening the central slit when the septum is buckled or flipped under tension in the meridial dimension in a second state. Buckling of the septum wall is caused solely by differential fluid pressure applied by a single plunger, without physical contact of the septum with any other structure within the syringe.