Needle-safe fluid transfer system with cannula shroud

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fluid transfer systems fail to adequately prevent inadvertent exposure to harmful pharmaceuticals and chemicals during preparation and administration, leading to serious health complications for healthcare personnel due to aerosolization and residual drug exposure.

Innovation Solution

A needle-safe fluid transfer system with a housing that shrouds the cannula tip and includes a blunt-tipped cannula, septums for sealing, and a wiping mechanism to prevent leakage and contamination, allowing for bi-directional fluid flow while minimizing exposure risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a needle-free fluid transfer system is used, then safety against needle-stick injuries is improved, but risk of aerosolization and leakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle-stick injury riskVSAvoidaerosolization and leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A wiping member is introduced as an intermediary element between the cannula and the external environment. This wiping member contacts the cannula during uncoupling to wipe away fluid, preventing aerosolization and leakage while maintaining the needle-free safety benefit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potential harm of fluid leakage and aerosolization into a controlled wiping action. The wiping member captures fluid that would otherwise be released, transforming a harmful byproduct into a controlled containment mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Ease of operation

If the cannula tip is exposed for fluid transfer, then ease of operation is improved, but risk of inadvertent puncture increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecannula accessVSAvoidinadvertent puncture risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cannula is designed to be dynamically exposed only during the specific moment of fluid transfer through the septum, and automatically retracted or covered during uncoupling. This dynamic control allows easy operation when needed while preventing inadvertent puncture at other times

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure is designed to automatically cover or retract the cannula tip before uncoupling occurs, performing a protective action in advance to prevent inadvertent puncture while maintaining accessibility during the actual transfer operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If multiple access to the fluid system is enabled, then ease of operation is improved, but risk of contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiple access capabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wiping member serves as an intermediary that contacts the cannula during each access operation, providing a consistent wiping action that prevents contamination while allowing multiple accesses to the fluid system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains a controlled environment within the housing that protects the fluid pathway from external contamination during multiple access operations, creating a protective barrier between the sterile fluid path and the external environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Data Source

PatentUS9198831B2Medical substance transfer system

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 SOLVENTUM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES CO

AI summary

Disclosed is a fluid transfer system for transferring a substance from one vessel to another vessel while avoiding leakage of liquid and gas contaminants. The transfer system includes a needle safe design that is facilitated by a housing that shrouds a tip of a fluid transfer cannula such that the cannula tip is not exposed for inadvertent puncture. This feature may also be enhanced by use of a blunt tipped cannula. The fluid transfer system permits multiple access by enabling the easy swabbing of a septum prior to use.