Automated Cavity Compliance Testing for Elastic Medical Products
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing the compliance of rubber-elastic medical products, such as gloves and catheters, require manual input of product parameters and are prone to errors, leading to delays or product damage due to incorrect fluid volume and pressure settings, especially when dealing with varying product sizes and potential leakages.
Innovation Solution
A medical-technical device that automatically determines the cavity characteristics by regulating fluid supply and pressure, using a combination of a fluid reservoir, regulated pump, measuring device, pressure sensor, and electronic computing unit to calculate necessary operating parameters, including methods to account for leakages and adjust settings for optimal testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual input of product parameters is used, then device settings can be adjusted, but human errors occur leading to incorrect fluid volume and pressure settings
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically determines cavity characteristics and calculates operating parameters without requiring manual input of product parameters. The system performs self-measurement and self-adjustment, eliminating human error in parameter input while maintaining ease of operation through automated functionality
2Ease of operation
If fixed fluid volume and pressure settings are used, then device operation is simplified, but product damage occurs due to incorrect settings for varying product sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically adjusts fluid volume and pressure settings based on real-time measurement of cavity characteristics. The system transitions from fixed settings to adaptive, variable settings that automatically match the specific product being tested, maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility across different product sizes
3Reliability
If automatic determination of cavity characteristics is implemented, then human error is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment systems with automated electronic measurement and control systems. Pressure sensors, flow meters, and microprocessors automatically determine cavity characteristics and adjust testing parameters, reducing human error while the electronic automation manages the inherent complexity through integrated software control
4Speed
If pressure measurement is performed continuously during fluid supply, then real-time pressure data is obtained, but pressure equilibrium cannot be established leading to inaccurate measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs periodic pressure measurements at specific intervals during the fluid supply process. Pressure is measured initially before fluid supply to establish baseline, then after fluid supply stops to allow equilibrium, enabling both real-time monitoring and accurate equilibrium pressure measurement through timed measurement cycles
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
The device ensures accurate and efficient determination of compliance, reducing human error and product damage by automatically adjusting fluid flow and pressure, enabling precise testing of medical products of varying sizes and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A pressure sensor (6) for determining the dynamic and static pressure of the fluid
Implementation Method 2
A measuring device for the volumetric flow (5)
Implementation Method 3
A regulated pump (actuator or supply unit) (4) for supplying the fluid in a regulated manner
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining cavity volumes of rubber-elastic medical products (e.g., latex products) for destruction-free leakage testing and to devices for carrying out said method.