Ergonomic Grip Enhancer for Medical Connector Fittings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users with limited manual dexterity, such as young children, elderly individuals, and those with debilitating illnesses, face difficulties in rotating and manipulating small rotatable/twistable connector devices like medical luer and coaxial connectors, which can lead to negative health outcomes due to the lack of easily attachable and removable gripping devices that do not require modifications to the connectors.
Innovation Solution
A snap-fit apparatus with ergonomic tabs and engagement surfaces is designed to facilitate the rotation of connector fittings, featuring a body with an exterior and interior portion, where the exterior has an opening for placement onto the fitting, and the interior includes engagement surfaces and ergonomic tabs to assist in gripping and rotating the fitting, along with stops to inhibit axial movement, allowing for secure attachment and removal without disconnection from tubing or other connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a connector fitting is made small and compact, then it saves space and is easier to store, but it becomes difficult to manipulate and rotate for users with limited manual dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The grip enhancer is designed as a nested structure where the resilient body can collapse inward to reduce volume for storage, yet expand to full size during use. The engagement surfaces and ergonomic tabs are nested within the body structure, allowing compact storage while maintaining full functionality during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip enhancer incorporates dynamic elements including the resilient body that can flex and collapse, the movable engagement surfaces that adapt to the connector shape, and the ergonomic tabs that can be positioned for optimal gripping. This dynamic structure allows the device to transition between compact storage state and expanded operational state.
2Reliability
If a gripping device is designed to securely hold a connector, then it provides reliable rotation, but it becomes difficult to attach and remove from the connector
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement surfaces are pre-configured with engagement features that automatically engage with corresponding features on the connector during the attachment process. The resilient body is pre-loaded with elastic energy that provides immediate gripping force upon attachment, eliminating the need for additional securing actions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the user to actively secure the grip enhancer to the connector, the design inverts the approach by having the connector itself engage with the pre-configured engagement surfaces. The resilient body passively embraces the connector, and the connector's own geometry facilitates the engagement process.
3Reliability
If a gripping device is designed with complex attachment mechanisms, then it can be securely attached to connectors, but it requires modifications to the connectors or multi-step attachment processes
Solution Approach 1:
The grip enhancer is segmented into distinct functional components: the resilient body for embracing the connector, the engagement surfaces for securing the connection, and the ergonomic tabs for user interaction. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement surfaces are designed with universal engagement features that can accommodate various connector types without requiring modification. The resilient body can adapt to different connector sizes and shapes, making the grip enhancer a universal solution that works with multiple connector configurations.
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 apparatus enables easy and secure rotation of connector fittings, facilitating one-handed use and minimizing the risk of over-tightening, while allowing for selective attachment and removal without modifying the existing connectors, thus improving usability for users with limited dexterity.
Implementation Method 1
the body is manufactured from a resilient polymeric material and may snap fit onto the fitting
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for facilitating rotation of a fitting includes a body having an exterior portion and an interior portion, the exterior portion having an opening configured to allow the body to be placed onto the fitting such that the fitting is received in the interior portion. The body further includes a plurality of engagement surfaces, the plurality of engagement surfaces configured to matingly engage an exterior of the fitting. The body also includes at least two ergonomic tabs that are configured to be gripped by a user to facilitate rotation of the fitting and at least one stop located on the body, the at least one stop configured to inhibit axial movement of the body relative to the fitting when secured thereto. In use, the body may be selectively placed on a fitting to facilitate rotation of the fitting by a user.