Positive Displacement Fluid Lock Port Reflux Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for flushing and locking procedures in medical catheters often result in reflux, which can lead to catheter occlusion, and rely heavily on user techniques to prevent blood reflux, lacking a reliable mechanism for minimizing reflux incidents.
Innovation Solution
A positive displacement fluid lock port system with a resilient conduit and biasing members that occlude the lumen upon disconnection, ensuring fluid displacement and preventing reflux, independent of user technique.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flushing/locking procedures are used with manual pressure maintenance or disconnection techniques, then reflux can be prevented, but the procedure relies on user technique and is not device-independent
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member automatically occludes the conduit lumen upon disconnection of the syringe, eliminating the need for user techniques such as maintaining plunger pressure or clamping the IV line. The device serves itself by using the biasing member's elastic recovery to prevent reflux automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the syringe connection and the catheter. It mediates the transition from connected to disconnected state by automatically occluding the lumen when the syringe is removed, preventing blood reflux without requiring user intervention.
2Reliability
If the biasing member is always engaged with the conduit, then reflux is prevented, but fluid flow is blocked during connected state
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member transitions between two dynamic states: engaged (occluding the lumen) when the syringe is disconnected, and disengaged (allowing fluid flow) when the syringe is connected. This dynamic behavior allows the system to automatically adapt to connection and disconnection states.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member is pre-configured to occlude the lumen in advance of potential reflux events. When the syringe disconnects, the biasing member immediately engages to prevent blood from flowing back into the catheter, acting before the harmful reflux can occur.
3Reliability
If manual pressure maintenance techniques are used to prevent reflux, then catheter occlusion is reduced, but the procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically prevents catheter occlusion by using the biasing member to occlude the conduit lumen upon disconnection. This eliminates the need for users to perform complex manual techniques such as maintaining plunger pressure or clamping the IV line, simplifying the procedure while maintaining reliability.
4Productivity
If the resilient conduit remains undeformed, then fluid flow is maintained, but reflux prevention is compromised upon disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient conduit dynamically changes its deformation state based on connection status. When the syringe is connected, the conduit remains relatively undeformed to allow fluid flow. When disconnected, the biasing member causes the conduit to deform and occlude the lumen to prevent reflux.
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 reduces reflux incidents by maintaining fluid displacement and preventing blood reflux into the catheter, ensuring the catheter remains unoccluded and ready for subsequent use.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient conduit supported within the housing, wherein the conduit defines a lumen therethrough; and at least one biasing member supported in the housing and being operatively associatable with the resilient conduit
Data Source
AI summary
Positive displacement fluid lock ports for use in combination with an indwelling catheter and a syringe during a flushing/locking procedure are provided. The fluid lock port includes a housing having a distal and a proximal end; a resilient conduit supported within the housing, wherein the conduit defines a lumen therethrough; and at least one biasing member supported in the housing and being operatively associatable with the resilient conduit. The at least one biasing member has a first condition restrained from deforming the resilient conduit and a second condition operatively engaged with the resilient conduit to at least partially occlude the lumen of the resilient conduit.