Elastomeric Cap Prevents Accidental Unlocking in Enteral Feeding Locking Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enteral nutrition connectors can unintentionally unlock due to movements of users, such as children, leading to potential health risks.
Innovation Solution
A cap for the locking set of an enteral power system, featuring an elastically deformable material body with specific wall configurations and openings, ensures secure locking by allowing rotation and accommodating the enteral feeding system components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple locking mechanism is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to unintentional unlocking from user movements
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two independent locking elements (first locking element on the base, second locking element on the connector) that must both be engaged for the locking to be effective. This segmentation ensures that simple movements cannot accidentally disengage both elements simultaneously, improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation through the rotation-based engagement mechanism.
2Reliability
If the locking mechanism is made more secure, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap structure integrates multiple locking functions into a single component. The cap body with its first vertical wall and first passage opening combines the rotational locking and positional locking functions, merging what would otherwise require separate mechanisms into one unified structure that maintains reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap acts as an intermediary element between the connector and the base, providing an additional locking layer. The cap's first passage opening and hollow housing work together with the locking elements to create a multi-stage locking system that enhances reliability while the cap itself serves as a simple intermediary component.
3Strength
If the cap body is made rigid, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as it cannot accommodate movements
Solution Approach 1:
The cap body is made of elastomeric material that exhibits elastic deformability, allowing it to flex and adapt to movements of the connector and base while maintaining structural integrity. This flexible material property enables the cap to accommodate user movements without compromising the locking mechanism's strength or reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap body is designed to be dynamically adaptable through its elastomeric properties, allowing it to deform and return to its original shape in response to movements. This dynamic characteristic enables the cap to maintain effective locking under various movement conditions while preserving structural strength through elastic recovery.
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 cap effectively prevents unintentional unlocking of the enteral nutrition system, even with significant user movements, thereby ensuring the system remains securely locked and functional.
Implementation Method 1
a cap body made of elastically deformable material so as to deform under a force and return to an initial undeformed state after the force is removed
Data Source
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AI summary
One of the aims of this invention is to make available a mechanism with which it is possible to avoid situations where numerous movements made by a wearer of an enteral feeding system accidentally cause a locking assembly (200) of the enteral feeding system to change from a locked state to an unlocked state. To this end, the inventor proposes a cap which, when the locking assembly (200) is in the locked state, permits the rotational locking of the locking assembly (200). In this way, the movements made by the wearer of the enteral feeding system can no longer accidentally cause the locking assembly (200) to change from the locked state to the unlocked state.