Fluid Flow Control Device with Septum for Single-Handed Sterile Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical stopcocks often allow open pathways, increasing the risk of contamination during fluid manipulation in medical procedures, requiring multiple hands to operate and lacking features for sterility and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow control device with an external and internal casing, a locking mechanism, and a septum for maintaining sterility, featuring a tactile or auditory feedback mechanism to ensure proper positioning and a blocking mechanism to prevent fluid leakage, allowing for single-handed operation and improved sterility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional medical stopcocks are used to allow fluid manipulation, then ease of operation is improved, but sterility is compromised due to open pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane or septum that can be punctured by needles while maintaining its integrity. This thin film barrier allows fluid injection through needle penetration while preventing contamination from open exposure, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and sterility maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary barrier (membrane/septum) between the fluid pathway and the external environment. This intermediary element allows controlled fluid transfer via needle puncture while blocking contamination, enabling both ease of operation and sterility protection simultaneously.
2Manufacturing precision
If stopcocks require multiple hands to manipulate valves and syringes, then fluid control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (fluid control, sterility maintenance, and connection) into a single integrated device structure. The stopcock body integrates the valve mechanism with the membrane barrier and connection ports, allowing single-handed operation while maintaining precise fluid control through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional stopcock device that simultaneously provides fluid flow control, sterility protection, and secure connection capabilities. This universal device eliminates the need for separate components requiring multiple hands, achieving both precision and ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If caps are removed and placed on unclean surfaces for stopcock access, then ease of operation is improved, but sterility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the stopcock with self-contained sterility protection where the membrane barrier remains attached to the device body. The barrier serves itself by maintaining its position and integrity without requiring removal and replacement of caps, thus maintaining sterility while allowing easy access through needle puncture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary sterility protection by having the membrane barrier pre-installed and permanently attached to the stopcock body. This preliminary action ensures sterility is maintained from the start without requiring cap removal, allowing easy operation while preventing contamination.
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid flow control devices for medical use are disclosed. On one end, a fluid flow control device is configured to be attached to a manifold that is in-line with an infusion setup and the other end of the fluid flow control device is configured to be attached to a sampling or infusion device, such as a syringe. In one aspect, a fluid flow control device has an external casing and an internal casing which is configured to be movably housed within the external casing. The internal casing mates with a fluid outlet on the external casing and upon separating the internal and external casings a fluid flow path is established.