Stackable Guide Wire Container With Living Hinge Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for coiled medical devices like guide wires are difficult and expensive to manufacture due to the need for complex designs such as vertical or inverted sidewalls and undercuts, and they suffer from poor stacking efficiency, leading to increased costs and logistical challenges.
Innovation Solution
A container with a retention tab coupled by a living hinge that can pivot from a stacking position to a retention position, allowing for outwardly tapering sidewalls and eliminating the need for undercuts, enabling efficient stacking and manufacturing while maintaining effective retention of coiled devices within a solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vertical or inverted sidewalls are used to prevent guide wire from expanding up the wall, then the guide wire retention is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to undercuts or expensive molding techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs an outwardly tapering sidewall that is static and simple to manufacture, combined with a dynamic retention mechanism consisting of a movable retention element that can be positioned to engage the coiled device. This retention element can be moved between positions to provide retention when needed and cleared to allow device removal, eliminating the need for complex vertical or inverted sidewalls while maintaining reliable guide wire retention.
2Reliability
If notches projecting into the bowl are added to retain the coiled device, then the retention capability is improved, but the stacking efficiency deteriorates due to interference with other containers
Solution Approach 1:
The retention element is designed to be movable relative to the container body, allowing it to be positioned in a retracted configuration during stacking to eliminate interference with adjacent containers, and positioned in an engaged configuration during use to provide reliable coiled device retention. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between retention capability and stacking efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If outwardly tapering sidewalls are used to simplify manufacturing, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the guide wire may expand up the wall and leap out of the solution
Solution Approach 1:
The simple outwardly tapering sidewall provides ease of manufacture, while a separate movable retention element provides the necessary guide wire containment. The retention element can be positioned to prevent the guide wire from expanding up the wall and leaping out, combining manufacturing simplicity with reliable containment through the dynamic retention mechanism.
4Reliability
If complex designs with undercuts are used to retain coiled devices, then the retention capability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using static complex designs with undercuts that reduce manufacturing efficiency, the invention employs a dynamic retention element that can be moved into position to provide coiled device retention when needed. This approach maintains reliable retention while allowing for simpler, faster manufacturing processes without undercuts.
Data Source
AI summary
A container (200) is configured to retain a coiled device, such as a guide wire, within the container (200). The container (200) includes a bowl (201) and one or more retention devices (230). Each retention device (230) includes a retention tab (206) that is coupled to the bowl (201) by a hinge (207). The bowl (201) and retention tabs (206) can be manufactured as an integral component by using living hinges as the hinge (207). The containers (200) are configured to be efficiently stacked when the retention tabs (206) are rotated to an open position.