Enteral Feeding Connector Drainage Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional enteral feeding connectors suffer from fluid collection in the male connector's well, which becomes contaminated upon disconnection, leading to potential contamination when reconnected and fluid delivery to the patient.
Innovation Solution
A medical tubing connector design featuring a continuous outer surface with an annular portion and a discontinuous connecting portion that allows fluid to drain, preventing pooling and contamination, with features such as spaced connecting arms, circumferentially arranged openings, or slots to facilitate fluid passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a male connector includes a well for receiving the female connector, then the connectors can be securely connected, but fluid collects in the well when disconnected and becomes contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into functional zones: a sealed connection region for secure mating and a drain region with discontinuous connecting portion that allows fluid to escape. The discontinuous connecting portion acts as a separate drainage pathway that prevents fluid accumulation in the well without compromising the sealing surface for connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful fluid accumulation problem is extracted by providing a dedicated drainage pathway through the discontinuous connecting portion. This allows fluid to be removed from the well region through openings in the connecting portion, separating the fluid drainage function from the connection function.
2Strength
If the connecting portion is continuous for structural integrity, then the connector is mechanically strong, but fluid pools between the first connector portion and annular portion
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion has non-uniform structure with different properties in different locations: it is continuous in the circumferential direction to maintain structural integrity and strength, but discontinuous in the axial direction with openings that allow fluid to pass through. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between strength and fluid drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting portion functions as a porous structure with openings distributed through it, allowing fluid to pass through while maintaining mechanical strength. The porous nature of the connecting portion enables simultaneous achievement of structural integrity and fluid drainage.
3Ease of operation
If connectors are disconnected for patient removal, then patient care can be adjusted, but exposed fluid in the well becomes contaminated by the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The drain is provided in advance as a built-in feature of the connector structure, preventing fluid accumulation before disconnection occurs. By preliminarily establishing the drainage pathway through the discontinuous connecting portion, fluid cannot accumulate in the well to become contaminated when the connector is disconnected for patient care adjustments.
Data Source
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AI summary
A medical tubing connector includes a first connector portion configured for connecting to a mating second connector. A tube engagement portion is integral with and opposite the first connector portion and configured for connecting to a medical tube. A liquid passage extends through the first connector portion and the tube engagement portion. The first connector portion includes a continuous outer surface for sealing engagement with the mating second connector. An annular portion is integral with and surrounds the male connector portion. A connecting portion connects the first connector portion to the annular portion. The connecting portion is discontinuous permitting liquid to pass through the connecting portion so that liquid is prevented from pooling between the first connector portion and the annular portion.