Fluid Bag Adaptor With Elastic Noose Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid bag connectors pose safety risks due to spillage and needle stick injuries during medication administration, particularly with hazardous drugs, as they often rely on non-sealable septums and prone to de-coupling, exposing healthcare personnel to environmental contaminants and hazardous substances.
Innovation Solution
An adaptable connector system with an elastically deformable noose and slider mechanism that securely engages with the fluid bag port, preventing de-coupling and ensuring fluid communication solely through a needle, while maintaining a sealed system to prevent exposure and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pliable septum is used for medication administration, then the port allows flexible access, but medication spillage and needle stick injuries occur
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor acts as an intermediary device between the syringe/needle and the fluid bag port. It includes a sealed hub with a first cavity that receives the port, and a second cavity that interfaces with the syringe. The adaptor provides a controlled pathway through its own septum or opening mechanism, preventing direct exposure to the fluid bag port and containing any potential spillage within the sealed hub structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor is designed as a single-use disposable device. After medication administration, the entire adaptor is discarded, eliminating the need to reuse components that may have been contaminated. This ensures that each use starts with a sterile, intact seal, preventing spillage and needle stick injuries associated with repeated use of the same port septum.
2Reliability
If the connector is made secure to prevent de-coupling, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is segmented into distinct functional components: a hub with sealed cavities, a connector body with engagement features, and integration with the noose. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply - the hub provides sealing, the connector provides mechanical engagement, and the noose provides suspension and coupling - while collectively achieving secure attachment without overly complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: it provides mechanical coupling to the port, maintains sealed fluid communication pathways, and interfaces with the noose for suspension. This consolidation achieves secure attachment and safety without the complexity of separate mechanisms for each function, as the single connector structure accomplishes all tasks simultaneously.
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 solution enhances safety by preventing accidental de-coupling and exposure to hazardous substances, reducing the risk of needle stick injuries and environmental contamination, and ensuring secure fluid transfer in both closed and open systems.
Implementation Method 1
the noose is configured to elastically couple the port and to position the port septum in the first cavity for piercing by the needle
Implementation Method 2
the connector is elastically deformable or elastically deformed by engagement of the at least one slider with the exterior surface such that the at least one slider is biased against the exterior surface
Implementation Method 3
the connector is increasingly deformed as the connector is displaced in the axial direction relative to the hub
Implementation Method 4
The at least one slider and the exterior surface are configured to ratchetly engage with one another to prevent movement of the connector relative to the hub in a direction substantially opposing the axial direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An adaptor (10) including a hub (30) and a connector (20), the hub (30) having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining a first cavity; and the connector (20) including: a noose (200) and at least one slider coupled to the noose, the slider being configured to engage the exterior surface such that the noose (200) is received by the first cavity.