Fluid Channel Sealing Structure for Stable Tube Patency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid channel sealing devices, such as those using frangible seals, often fail to maintain patency due to the broken pieces separating, causing incomplete fluid flow and potential contamination risks in medical settings.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable blocking element with a solid of rotation design, connected by a web, that can be deformed to create a stable open channel, maintaining patency by preventing the blocking element from returning to its original configuration, using a forcing driver to apply a crosswise force and maintain the deformed shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a frangible seal with broken pieces is used to allow fluid flow, then fluid can pass through the channel, but the broken pieces may separate and fail to ensure tube patency
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking element is divided into multiple segments (first blocking segment, second blocking segment, third blocking segment) that can independently move or deform. This segmentation allows the elements to separate and create flow paths while maintaining enough structural connection to ensure reliability and prevent complete failure of tube patency.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking elements are designed to be dynamic rather than static, capable of deforming, separating, or reconfiguring in response to fluid pressure or external forces. This dynamic behavior allows the system to transition from a blocked state to a flowing state while maintaining reliability through controlled movement rather than complete separation.
2Productivity
If an elongate member is broken to create an opening, then fluid flow is enabled, but the tube may relax causing the broken pieces to fail to ensure patency
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking elements are designed with nested or interlocking features where segments can be positioned within or alongside each other. This nesting arrangement allows the segments to maintain a stable configuration when not actively creating flow, preventing unwanted relaxation or displacement while still enabling flow when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary elements or mechanisms (such as the web connecting segments or the tube wall itself acting as a mediator) that prevent complete separation of blocking segments. This intermediary structure maintains stability and ensures that broken pieces remain positioned to ensure tube patency while still allowing fluid flow.
3Productivity
If a blocking element is designed to separate into pieces to allow flow, then fluid can pass, but the pieces may be carried away by fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking elements are designed with features that preemptively prevent them from being carried away by fluid flow. This may include attachment mechanisms, interlocking features, or positioning structures that are established before fluid flow begins, ensuring that segments remain in place to prevent contamination while allowing controlled flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of fluid flow carrying away blocking pieces into a beneficial controlled separation mechanism. The fluid pressure that could potentially dislodge pieces is instead utilized to controllably move segments into positions that create flow paths while maintaining safety and preventing contamination through the web or other retaining structures.
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
Ensures reliable and consistent fluid flow while preventing contamination by maintaining the open channel configuration, even with resilient plastic tubes that tend to return to their original shape, and allows for easy integration with medical fluid management systems.
Implementation Method 1
The blocking element is reconfigured by deforming the blocking element to open a hole in the blocking element
Implementation Method 2
A tube of resilient plastic, commonly used in medical applications, would tend to return to its original shape thereby potentially causing the first and second parts to return to a blocking or partly blocking configuration
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid channel sealing devices, frangible seals, fluid circuits, associated controllers and methods of using the same are provided for controlling fluid distribution using a reconfigurable blocking element having first and second portions to establish a first configuration free of any open channels such that fluid is prevented from flowing through the channel and a second configuration where the first and second portions are separated to establish an open channel and allow fluid to pass.