Flexible IV Container with Segmented Body and Creased Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid containers for intravenous use are inconvenient to prepare and difficult to drain due to their design, which often requires external pressure and lacks flexibility for adding supplements, and they are not easily collapsible for efficient fluid administration.
Innovation Solution
A flexible container with a cross-sectional configuration allowing it to stand upright or hang, featuring a base with creases for folding and a port system with a puncturable membrane for easy access and drainage, along with a method for filling and expanding the container's volume to accommodate additional fluids, utilizing self-lubricating and antimicrobial materials for the stopper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If prior art blow molded containers are designed with fixed volumetric storage capacity, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability for adding supplements or additives deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed with an expandable body that can increase its volumetric storage capacity from an initial fixed volume to a larger expanded volume. This dynamic volume adjustment allows the container to accommodate additional supplements or additives while maintaining ease of manufacture through a standardized initial molding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The container's volumetric storage capacity parameter is made variable rather than fixed. The body can transition between different volume states (collapsed, partially filled, fully expanded), enabling the same container structure to serve multiple volume requirements without requiring different manufacturing molds.
2Volume of moving object
If prior art containers are designed to lie on their sides, then storage space is optimized, but ease of operation for prepping deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates a collapsible body that can dynamically change its orientation and shape. It can be collapsed into a compact form for space-efficient storage, then expanded into an upright configuration that facilitates easy access to ports and preparation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The container body is segmented with fold lines and creases that allow it to be collapsed into a compact storage configuration while maintaining structural integrity. This segmentation enables the container to transition between storage and operational states without requiring external assistance.
3Productivity
If prior art flexible PVC IV bags require external pressure for drainage, then fluid administration control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed to drain fluid through its own weight and gravity without requiring external pressure sources. The collapsible body automatically expels fluid as it empties, eliminating the need for complex external pressure application mechanisms while maintaining efficient fluid administration.
4Stability of the object's composition
If prior art containers do not collapse predictably, then structural integrity is maintained, but ease of operation for drainage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container features a predictably collapsible structure with predetermined fold lines and creases that guide the collapse pattern. This controlled dynamics ensures the container maintains structural integrity while collapsing in a predictable manner to facilitate complete drainage without requiring external intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible container for fluid administration is provided having a body defining a cavity, a base, and at least one port comprising a flange in contact with a flange of a terminal port having a punctureable membrane layer. The body has a cross-sectional configuration including a lower body section of a first dimension, a middle body section of a second dimension, and an upper body section of a third dimension, wherein the second dimension is smaller than the first dimension and the third dimension. The flexible container may also include a base having a plurality of creases that are foldable to form two folded ends each including an extension having a base of a first dimension and a tip of a second dimension.