End Cap Refraction Part for Medical Liquid Injection Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is difficult to visually confirm whether the priming liquid has reached the end cap in medical liquid injection apparatuses, especially with transparent liquids, requiring constant observation by medical staff to avoid errors.
Innovation Solution
An end cap with a refraction part made of transparent material having a refractive index greater than 1 and an internal angle less than 90 degrees, along with an indication part, allows for visual confirmation of the priming liquid's presence by changing light direction based on the filling state, reducing the risk of contamination and human error.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transparent priming liquid is used in the flow path, then the liquid can be seen clearly, but it becomes difficult to visually confirm whether the priming liquid has reached the end cap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a refraction part with specific refractive index and internal angle to create optical path changes. When the passage is filled with priming liquid, light refracts differently compared to when air is present, creating visible light path differences that indicate liquid arrival at the end cap
Solution Approach 2:
The refraction part acts as an intermediary optical element between the light source and the observer. It mediates the interaction between light and the priming liquid, converting the liquid's presence into visible optical path changes that can be detected by medical staff
2Reliability
If medical staff constantly watch and observe the priming liquid, then they can confirm its arrival, but this increases the risk of contamination and human error
Solution Approach 1:
The end cap with refraction part performs self-indication of the priming liquid's arrival status. The system automatically provides visual feedback through optical path changes, eliminating the need for constant human observation and reducing the risk of contamination and human error
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
Enables easy and quick visual recognition of the priming liquid's introduction into the end cap, significantly reducing the likelihood of errors and minimizing the risk of contamination by using a physical optical property rather than chemical reactions.
Implementation Method 1
a refraction part formed of a transparent material having a refractive index nr greater than 1... in a second state in which the passage is filled with the priming liquid, a part of light that starts from the indication part travels in the display direction
Implementation Method 2
in the first state, light totally reflected from the second surface travels in the display direction
Data Source
AI summary
An end cap according to a disclosed embodiment is connected to a downstream side of a flow path of a medical liquid injection apparatus and is configured such that a priming liquid is introduced into the end cap. The end cap includes: a refraction part formed of a transparent material having a refractive index (nr) greater than 1 and including a first surface and a second surface forming an internal angle smaller than 90 degrees; and an indication part disposed to be spaced apart from the second surface. The end cap forms a passage in which the introduced priming liquid is movable, and a part of the passage is located between the second surface and the indication part.