Flexible Cassette Assembly for Syringe-Free Infusion Priming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current infusion cassettes with rigid outer housings for infusion pumps face issues such as mismatched stocking, time-consuming priming processes, patient mobility restrictions, and alarm triggers due to disconnection, leading to inefficiencies and potential health risks.
Innovation Solution
A flexible or pliable outer cover with a negative-pressure reservoir that securely contains fluid, allowing for single-size cassettes to accommodate varying fluid volumes, reduces disconnection risks, and facilitates efficient priming without syringes, enhancing patient comfort and mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid outer housing is used in the cassette, then connection to the pump and protection from punctures/leaks is improved, but patient mobility is restricted and torquing/twisting occurs during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible outer housing instead of a rigid one. This flexible housing maintains the protective function against punctures and leaks while eliminating the torquing and twisting problems that occur with rigid housings during patient movement. The flexible material allows the housing to deform and absorb mechanical stresses without compromising the connection to the pump or causing damage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sizes of cassettes are stocked to match different fluid volumes, then fluid delivery requirements are met, but stocking complexity and mismatched quantities occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a single-size cassette with an expandable flexible housing that can accommodate multiple fluid volumes (50ml, 100ml, 250ml, and larger). The flexible housing can be expanded to match the volume of the reservoir inside, allowing one universal cassette design to serve multiple fluid delivery requirements, thereby eliminating the need to stock multiple sizes and reducing complexity in inventory management.
3Strength
If a rigid outer housing is used, then structural protection is improved, but priming time and fluid residue increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible outer housing allows the reservoir to be compressed and manipulated during priming, enabling fluid to be forced into the tubing more efficiently. This eliminates the need for syringes and reduces priming time, while the flexible material still provides adequate structural protection during normal use.
4Reliability
If the cassette is made disposable to ensure safety, then contamination is prevented, but waste and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cassette into separable components: a reusable flexible outer housing and a replaceable reservoir. The flexible housing can be sterilized and reused, while only the reservoir needs to be disposed of after use. This segmentation reduces waste and cost compared to completely disposable cassettes, while maintaining contamination prevention through proper sterilization of the reusable components.
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 flexible cassette design minimizes fluid residue, reduces alarm triggers, and improves patient mobility by accommodating varying fluid amounts, ensuring consistent drug delivery and reducing medical facility visits.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible cover can be compressed or squeezed to force air out of and fluid into the tube
Implementation Method 2
The negative-pressurization of the reservoir facilitates the peristaltic action of the infusion pump in drawing fluid into the intravenous line
Data Source
AI summary
A cassette for attachment and use with an infusion pump apparatus. The cassette head having a low profile cassette head for attaching to the infusion pump apparatus and a flexible reservoir attached to the cassette head that can be filled with a fluid to be administered to a patient. The reservoir is enclosed in a flexible cover attached to the cassette. The flexibility of the cover and the reservoir inhibits the cassette head from disengaging from the infusion pump apparatus and allows the infusion pump apparatus to be primed by squeezing or pressing the cover and reservoir.