Fluid Connector Assembly with Threshold-Force Safety Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical fluid connections in systems like IV fluid lines can unintentionally dislodge due to unexpected forces, leading to patient injury, fluid loss, infection risk, and medical delivery delays.
Innovation Solution
A fluid connector assembly with automatic decoupling mechanisms, such as bellows or elastically compressible members, that respond to external forces by sealing off fluid paths and allowing safe disconnection, and reconnecting when necessary, featuring connecting mechanisms like projections and elastic bands to manage threshold forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connecting mechanism is designed to be secure and resistant to disconnection, then the reliability of the fluid connection is improved, but the device becomes more vulnerable to unintended dislodgement when excessive force is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting mechanism incorporates a dynamic force threshold design where the connector maintains a secure locked state under normal operating forces, but automatically transitions to a disengaged state when a predetermined excessive force is applied. This dynamic response allows the system to adapt its connection strength based on the applied force, preventing unintended dislodgement while maintaining reliability during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful effect of excessive force that could cause unintended dislodgement into a beneficial automatic safety mechanism. When force exceeds the predetermined threshold, the connector automatically disengages and seals, transforming the potentially harmful excessive force into a protective action that prevents patient injury and fluid loss.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the connector is designed to maintain a secure connection under normal forces, then the fluid connection stability is improved, but the connector cannot be easily disconnected when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs a dynamic force threshold mechanism that distinguishes between normal operating forces and intentional disconnection forces. Under normal forces, the connector maintains stable engagement through a locked state. When intentional disconnection is needed, the user applies force exceeding the predetermined threshold, which triggers automatic disengagement and sealing, providing both stability during use and ease of controlled disconnection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the connector automatically seals upon disconnection to prevent fluid loss and infection, then patient safety is improved, but the internal surfaces become exposed and require additional disinfection steps
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates a preliminary sealing action that automatically occurs upon disconnection. The sealing member is pre-positioned to close the fluid passage immediately when the connector disengages, preventing fluid loss and infection risk before the disconnection is fully complete. This preliminary sealing action ensures patient safety is maintained throughout the disconnection process.
4Reliability
If the connecting mechanism uses a predetermined force threshold for automatic disengagement, then unintended dislodgement is prevented, but the connector may disengage under unexpected forces that exceed the threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the potentially harmful scenario of excessive force application into a beneficial safety feature. When unexpected forces exceed the predetermined threshold, the connector automatically disengages and seals, preventing patient injury and fluid loss. The harmful excessive force is transformed into a protective trigger that activates the safety mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector acts as an intermediary safety device between the fluid delivery system and the patient. It monitors applied forces and intermediates by automatically disengaging and sealing when forces exceed safe thresholds, preventing direct transmission of harmful forces to the patient while maintaining connection stability during normal operation.
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
Prevents patient injury and infection, limits fluid loss, and ensures efficient reconnection of medical fluid lines by automatically decoupling under excessive force while allowing safe sterilization and reconnection.
Implementation Method 1
automatic decoupling using bellows or other elastically compressible member that decompress and return to their original shape external forces are no longer acting upon them
Implementation Method 2
The elastic band may be configured to deflect until the predetermined threshold force is applied. When the predetermined threshold force is applied, the elastic band may expand allowing the threads to pull thereby decoupling the first connector and the second connector.
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid connector assemblies that seal off fluid paths in the respective connectors are disclosed. The connectors may be coupled via a connecting mechanism that that provides a threshold retention force. When an external force greater than the threshold force is applied to the fluid connector assembly, the snap mechanism may no longer maintain the connectors together, causing the connectors to decouple from each other. Once decoupled, the connectors may be sanitized and/or replaced before being recoupled.