Elastic-Membrane Medical Device With Air-Gap Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
The excessive pressure increase in the closed space between the sealing part and the fixing part of medical devices with elastic membranes, such as pressure detectors, leads to potential malfunctions during sterilization or high-temperature use, reducing the sealability and reliability of the device.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a releasing part that releases pressure in the air gap between the sealing part and the fixing parts, such as a connecting part, cut part, or groove, to prevent excessive pressure buildup, ensuring the device's quality and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the first case portion and second case portion are fixed together by ultrasonic welding or press-fitting to seal the elastic membrane, then the sealability of the device is improved, but excessive pressure increases in the closed space between the sealing part and fixing part, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The case is divided into a first case portion and a second case portion that are fixed together, creating a structured assembly where the sealing part and fixing part are spatially separated. This segmentation allows the sealing function and pressure relief function to be independently optimized without interfering with each other.
Solution Approach 2:
An air gap is intentionally created as an intermediary space between the sealing part and the fixing part. This air gap acts as a pressure buffer that can absorb and relieve excessive pressure buildup during sterilization or high-temperature use, preventing direct transmission of pressure to the sealed elastic membrane while maintaining the integrity of the seal.
2Manufacturing precision
If press-fitting or ultrasonic welding is used to fix the case portions, then the manufacturing precision and assembly strength are improved, but the probability of radial displacement of the elastic membrane increases due to significant pressure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap is designed in advance as a cushioning space before sterilization or high-temperature processing occurs. This pre-established gap provides a buffer zone that absorbs pressure increases during subsequent processing, preventing the elastic membrane from experiencing excessive radial forces that would cause displacement or deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The case structure exhibits local quality differentiation: the sealing part provides high sealing strength, the fixing part provides strong mechanical attachment, and the intermediate air gap provides pressure relief. Each region is optimized for its specific function, allowing the overall structure to maintain precision while preventing membrane displacement.
3Volume of moving object
If the sealing part is positioned close to the fixing part to minimize device size, then the compactness is improved, but the closed space pressure increases excessively during sterilization or high-temperature use
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely eliminating the gap between the sealing part and fixing part, the design accepts a partial gap (air gap) that is sufficient for pressure relief but minimized to maintain compactness. This partial action approach balances the conflicting requirements of device miniaturization and pressure management.
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 releasing part effectively suppresses excessive pressure increase, maintaining the sealability and reliability of the medical device, even under sterilization or high-temperature conditions, thereby preventing malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
a releasing part that releases a pressure in an air gap produced between the sealing part and the fixing parts
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes a case obtained by mating a liquid-phase-portion case and a gas-phase-portion case to each other, a membrane member as an elastic member with which a liquid-phase portion covered by the liquid-phase-portion case and a gas-phase portion covered by the gas-phase-portion case are separated from each other, fixing parts and at which the liquid-phase-portion case and the gas-phase-portion case that are mated to each other are fixed to each other, holding surfaces and between which a peripheral edge of the membrane member is held, and a sealing part that seals the entirety of the peripheral edge of the membrane member held between the holding surfaces and. The medical device has a releasing part that releases the pressure in an air gap produced between the sealing part and the fixing parts.