Fluid Control Device Actuator Seals Pathways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid control devices for hazardous liquid drugs face leakage risks due to open pathways after vial adapter detachment, posing health hazards during handling and administration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a manually depressed actuator that seals pathways and prevents vial adapter detachment until actuated, ensuring a failsafe operation and preventing liquid drug leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vial adapter detachment is allowed for mixing procedure, then mixing operation is enabled, but open pathways are created leading to liquid drug leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is pre-positioned within the vial adapter to seal the pathway before detachment occurs. The actuator is pre-configured in a locked position that prevents premature detachment. When the actuator is activated, it automatically actuates the sealing element to seal the pathway, ensuring that the sealing action is performed in advance of any potential leakage hazard.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing element is introduced as an intermediary component between the vial adapter and the environment. This sealing element can be actuated to seal the pathway, serving as a mediator that prevents direct contact between the liquid drug and the external environment during detachment operations.
2Reliability
If manually depressed actuator is added to seal pathways, then leakage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through manual depression. When the user depresses the actuator, it automatically triggers the sealing element without requiring additional complex control systems. The actuator's mechanical movement directly translates to the sealing action, creating a simple cause-and-effect relationship that minimizes overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator and sealing element functions are merged into a single integrated mechanism. The actuator's depression motion is directly coupled to the sealing element's sealing action, combining multiple functions (actuation and sealing) into one unified component system, thereby reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying the overall device structure.
3Reliability
If actuator prevents vial adapter detachment prior to actuation, then failsafe operation is achieved, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator transitions from a static locked position to a dynamic actuated position through manual depression. This dynamic transition allows the system to maintain a failsafe locked state during normal operation while enabling easy detachment when needed. The mechanical design provides clear tactile feedback and requires minimal force to actuate, maintaining ease of operation despite the added safety mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is designed to prevent premature detachment by maintaining a locked position that resists unintended opening. This preliminary anti-action counteracts any forces that might cause accidental detachment. However, the locking mechanism is designed with a simple release mechanism that requires only a brief manual depression, thereby preventing harmful premature detachment while maintaining ease of intentional operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid control device (70) including a housing (31) with a syringe port (33) for receiving a syringe, a vial adapter port (36) with a vial adapter (86) for snap fit receiving a vial, and a drug administration port (34) for administering a liquid drug. The vial adapter is intended to be rotationally detached after a mixing procedure for discarding together with a spent vial. The fluid control device additionally includes a manually depressed actuator (74) for sealing pathways which may lead to leakage of liquid drug subsequent to vial adapter detachment, thereby facilitating their use for handling and administration of hazardous liquid drugs. The manually depressed actuator preferably precludes vial adapter detachment prior to actuation, thereby ensuring failsafe operation.