Fluid Line Air Filter With Floating Seal for Air Embolism Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for filtering air from fluid lines in medical settings, particularly during rapid fluid administration, are inadequate in preventing air embolisms due to complexity, expense, and inefficiency in sealing mechanisms, especially in emergency situations where fluid bags may tip over or need to be replaced.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a housing, valve seat, sealing member, and upper cap that allows air to be purged from fluid bags without disconnecting tubing, using a deformable valve seat and sealing member that seals at a minimum fluid level, ensuring air is prevented from entering the patient's circulatory system even when the system is tilted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If known automatic shut off systems are used to prevent air embolisms, then air prevention capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a floating seal that automatically rises with the fluid level to seal against the valve seat, preventing air entry without requiring external control systems or complex mechanisms. The seal self-regulates based on fluid level, providing automatic protection against air embolisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential air prevention function from complex automatic shut-off systems and implements it through a simple floating seal mechanism that rises to seal the valve opening when fluid level drops, eliminating the need for complex control systems.
2Reliability
If fluid bags are elevated vertically to prevent air flow, then air embolism prevention is improved, but adaptability to emergency situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The floating seal dynamically adjusts its position based on fluid level and gravitational force, automatically sealing the valve opening when the bag is tilted or positioned horizontally. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain air prevention capability regardless of bag orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter from fixed vertical orientation to dynamic sealing based on fluid level and gravity. The floating seal responds to changes in bag position by adjusting its vertical displacement, maintaining sealing effectiveness in both vertical and horizontal orientations.
3Reliability
If air is removed by manual squeezing and reconnection, then air removal effectiveness is improved, but infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating seal prevents air from entering the fluid line in the first place by sealing the valve opening when fluid level drops. This preliminary prevention eliminates the need for subsequent air removal operations that would require disconnecting and reconnecting tubing, thereby preventing infection risk.
4Reliability
If IV tubing is drained to remove air, then air removal is achieved, but fluid loss and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The floating seal applies preliminary anti-action by preventing air from entering the fluid line during bag replacement or when fluid level drops. This prevents the formation of air pockets that would later require time-consuming drainage procedures.
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
The system effectively prevents air from entering the patient's circulation by sealing at a minimum fluid level, allowing for safe and efficient air purging without the need for complex disconnections, thus reducing the risk of air embolisms and improving ease of use in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing member can be configured to float at a liquid fluid level within the reservoir
Implementation Method 2
using a deformable valve seat and sealing member that seals at a minimum fluid level
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a housing can define a reservoir. A lower cap can be coupled to the housing and define an outlet, and an upper cap can be coupled to the housing and can define an inlet. The upper cap can include an extending portion extending laterally a distance beyond an outermost extending portion of the lower cap relative to a central axis of the housing such that, when the lower cap and the extending portion of the upper cap contact a horizontal surface, the central axis of the housing is transverse to the surface and a sealing member is configured to sealingly engage a sealing surface of a valve seat prior to a liquid fluid level within a reservoir decreasing below a minimum threshold fluid level.