Medical Device Housing Pocket for Splash-Protected Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices, such as dialysis machines, face the risk of electrical short circuits due to water or steam ingress through connection ports located on the housing, making them unsuitable for humid environments.
Innovation Solution
The housing design incorporates a pocket on the housing wall with a connection socket protected inside, featuring a roof overhang and inclined surfaces to direct liquids away from the socket, and a separate component that can be easily retrofitted for enhanced protection against liquid ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If connection sockets are located directly on the outside of the housing wall, then accessibility and ease of operation are improved, but protection against liquid ingress deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection socket is relocated from the outer surface to an inner surface of the housing wall, transitioning from a two-dimensional surface mounting to a three-dimensional embedded position. This dimensional change allows the socket to be protected by the housing wall thickness while remaining accessible through the pocket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A pocket structure serves as an intermediary element between the external environment and the connection socket. This pocket acts as a protective mediator that allows the socket to be accessible while shielding it from direct liquid exposure, effectively mediating between accessibility requirements and protection needs.
2Reliability
If connection sockets are protected from liquid ingress, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket structure is merged with the housing wall as an integral component rather than a separate attachment. This merging combines the protective function with the structural housing element, achieving protection against liquid ingress without adding separate complex protective mechanisms or components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If connection sockets are oriented downwards, then protection against splashing water is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket structure creates a three-dimensional space that allows the connection socket to be oriented downwards for splash protection while maintaining accessibility through the pocket's open top. This dimensional configuration resolves the contradiction between orientation for protection and accessibility for operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a housing (G) for a medical device (1) comprising a housing wall (10) extending planarly along a vertical axis (H) and a transverse axis (Q) and having an outer surface (11) facing the environment and an inner surface (12), wherein the inner surface (12) is opposite the outer surface (11) along a longitudinal axis (L), a connector (30) configured for connecting a signal line and transmitting signals, wherein the housing wall (10) is provided with a pocket (20) recessed into the housing wall (10) extending from the outer surface (11) along the longitudinal axis (L) towards an inner surface (12), wherein the connector (30) is arranged in the pocket (20) and is thereby protected against splashing water, wherein the pocket (20) comprises a top section (21), a bottom section (22) opposite the top section (21) along the vertical axis (H), and a back wall (23).which extends planarly along the vertical axis (H) and the transverse axis (Q) between the top section (21) and the bottom section (22), wherein the connection socket (30) is arranged on the rear wall (23) of the pocket (20), and wherein the top section (21) projects outwards along a longitudinal axis (L) beyond the outer surface (11) of the housing wall (10) and forms a roof overhang (24).