Medical Fluid Container Cap With Septum-Piercing Spike Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical fluid containers with conventional caps require separate piercing devices for fluid addition or removal, leading to inconvenient handling, potential errors, and safety risks, especially when upside down or under time constraints.
Innovation Solution
A cap system with a self-sealing septum and a connection structure that allows direct connection to an attachment part with a hollow spike, enabling fluid communication without separate piercing, and compatible with various devices for both withdrawal and addition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate piercing devices (needles) are used for fluid addition and removal, then fluid communication can be established, but handling becomes inconvenient and safety risks increase especially during upside-down operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the piercing function and fluid communication function into a single integrated attachment part. The hollow spike serves both to pierce the septum and to establish fluid communication, eliminating the need for separate needles for fluid addition and removal. This integration simplifies handling and reduces safety risks associated with multiple piercing devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment part with the hollow spike is designed to be universally applicable for both fluid addition and fluid removal operations. The same attachment part can be used to pierce the septum and establish fluid communication in either direction, making the system multi-functional and eliminating the need for different needles for different purposes.
2Device complexity
If separate piercing devices are used, then fluid communication can be established, but the number of components and potential sources of error increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (piercing, fluid communication, sealing) into a single attachment part with a hollow spike. This reduces the total number of components that need to be handled and assembled, thereby reducing potential sources of error and simplifying the overall system.
3Ease of operation
If a hollow spike is integrated into the cap system, then needle-free fluid communication is achieved, but the cap structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into distinct functional modules: the cap with port and septum, and the separate attachment part with the hollow spike. This segmentation allows the hollow spike to be integrated into a modular attachment part that can be connected to the cap as needed, providing needle-free operation while keeping the cap structure itself relatively simple and modular.
4Reliability
If the hollow spike pierces the septum upon connection, then secure sealing is achieved, but the connection process becomes more critical
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow spike is pre-positioned within the attachment part such that piercing of the septum occurs automatically upon connection to the cap. This preliminary positioning ensures that the piercing action is integrated into the connection process itself, so that secure sealing is achieved as a direct result of proper connection, making the connection process both the means of attachment and the means of sealing.
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
Simplifies and safer handling by eliminating the need for separate piercing devices, reducing errors and injuries, while ensuring secure sealing and versatile use with different devices.
Implementation Method 1
The hollow spike is configured to pierce the septum when the connection structure and the complementary connection structure are connected to each other
Implementation Method 2
The membrane is self-sealing, i.e. when the piercing device is withdrawn from the membrane again, the opening pierced by the piercing device closes at least partially, preferably completely
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a cap for a medical fluid container and an attachment part. The cap includes at least one first port. The first port includes a septum and a connection structure. The attachment part includes a hollow spike and a joining structure in fluid communication with the hollow spike. The joining structure is configured for connecting the device for withdrawing fluid from the fluid container and/or for supplying fluid into the fluid container. The connection structure is configured to be connected to a complementary connection structure of the attachment part in a releasable or non-releasable manner such that the hollow spike of the attachment part pierces the septum.