Gamma-Weakened Breakable Cap for Medical Container Locking Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking covers for medical containers with breakable caps face challenges in assembly complexity, ergonomic issues due to strong cap attachment, and unreliable proof of first use due to variations in cap production, leading to inconsistent user experience and manufacturing yield.
Innovation Solution
A locking cover with a cap featuring breakable fastening lugs made from a different plastic material than the cage and body, with a reduced resistance to rupture after gamma irradiation, ensuring the cap breaks irreversibly upon removal, and a breakable zone design that localizes the breaking point, facilitating easy assembly and sterilization without degrading the container's integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the cap is welded to the locking cover, then the connection is strong and secure, but the assembly method becomes complex and the cap holds too strongly making breaking non-ergonomic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the welding process (thermal/chemical joining) with a mechanical interlocking system using fastening lugs that are caught between the cage and body. This substitution eliminates the complexity of welding operations while providing secure mechanical attachment through the interlocking lugs.
2Strength
If the fastening lugs are made very secure, then the cap remains firmly attached, but the force required to remove the cap becomes excessive for the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the cap by selecting a plastic material whose resistance to rupture is specifically reduced by gamma irradiation. This parameter change allows the fastening lugs to provide strong attachment under normal conditions while enabling easy breaking during sterilization and subsequent use.
3Ease of operation
If the cap material is made fragile to ensure breaking during removal, then the breaking force is reduced, but the fastening lugs may break during initial assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies gamma irradiation as a preliminary action during the sterilization process, before the product reaches the user. This preliminary exposure to radiation pre-weakens the cap material, ensuring that the cap will break easily during subsequent removal operations while not affecting the assembly process that occurs before irradiation.
4Reliability
If gamma irradiation is applied to sterilize the cover, then sterilization is achieved, but the cap material may be degraded affecting its mechanical strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately selects a plastic material for the cap whose resistance to rupture is reduced by gamma irradiation. This parameter change is intentional and controlled, transforming the harmful effect of radiation on material strength into a useful feature that enables the cap to break easily after sterilization, providing proof of first use.
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 solution simplifies assembly, ensures reliable proof of first use by making the cap breakable only after sterilization, reducing the force required for cap removal, and maintaining container integrity by using gamma-resistant materials for the cage and body, thus enhancing user safety and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the plastic material of the cap being chosen to have a resistance to rupture, which is reduced by a dose of gamma irradiation to sterilize the cover
Data Source
AI summary
A locking cover for a container having a neck comprising: a cage made from plastic; a body made from plastic, which is fastened around the cage, the body comprising a central orifice; a cap configured to close the central orifice, the cap comprising a flat head to cover the orifice and fastening lugs caught between the cage and the body. Each fastening lug has a breakable zone, and the cap is made from a plastic material, different from the plastic material of the cage and from the plastic material of the body, the plastic material of the cap being chosen to have a resistance to rupture reduced by a dose of gamma irradiation for sterilizing the locking cover.