Indwelling Needle Valve with Side Holes to Eliminate Dead Space Blood Stagnation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In indwelling needle assemblies, blood stagnation occurs in the flow path and surrounding areas of the operation member, leading to potential bacterial proliferation or thrombus formation due to dead spaces created during infusion.

Innovation Solution

The indwelling needle features a valve mechanism with an operation member having side holes that allow infusion liquid to flow through, filling the dead spaces and preventing blood stagnation, with the side holes positioned distally relative to the valve element to ensure effective liquid flow and blood displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operation member protrudes from the valve element during infusion, then the valve element can be opened to allow liquid flow, but dead spaces are created where blood stagnates and becomes a source of bacterial proliferation or thrombus

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve opening operationVSAvoidblood stagnation leading to bacterial proliferation or thrombus

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The operation member is designed with side holes that allow infusion liquid to flow through and fill dead spaces. This porous structure enables the liquid to reach areas that would otherwise be inaccessible, preventing blood stagnation while maintaining the valve opening function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The side holes in the operation member utilize fluid flow dynamics to force infusion liquid into dead spaces during the priming process. The hydraulic action ensures complete filling of recesses and prevents blood from remaining in areas surrounding the protruding operation member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If the flow path is primed with infusion liquid to prevent blood stagnation, then bacterial proliferation and thrombus formation are reduced, but the priming process must be ensured to reach all dead spaces including those surrounded by the operation member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of bacterial proliferation and thrombusVSAvoidensuring complete priming of all flow path areas

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The side holes create multiple flow paths through the operation member, allowing infusion liquid to simultaneously reach multiple dead spaces. This porous structure simplifies the priming process by ensuring complete filling of all recesses without requiring complex priming mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The operation member is divided into sections with side holes at different positions, creating multiple independent flow channels. This segmentation allows the priming liquid to reach different dead spaces through separate pathways, ensuring complete coverage of all areas surrounding the operation member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the side holes are positioned distally relative to the valve element, then effective liquid flow through the operation member is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid flow efficiency through operation memberVSAvoidpositioning of side holes relative to valve element

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The side holes are strategically positioned at specific locations along the operation member where they can most effectively drain dead spaces. This localized placement optimizes liquid flow efficiency by targeting areas where blood stagnation is most likely to occur, rather than distributing holes uniformly throughout the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This configuration ensures that blood is prevented from stagnating, reducing the risk of bacterial proliferation and thrombus formation by ensuring the flow path is primed with infusion liquid, thereby maintaining a sterile and functional infusion system.

Implementation Method 1

the liquid flows out from the inside of the operation member into the flow path through the side hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow through side holes:

Data Source

PatentUS8951230B2Indwelling needle and indwelling needle assembly

Publication Date: 2015.02.10 TERUMO KK

AI summary

A indwelling needle includes an outer needle, an outer needle hub with a flow path communicating with the inside of the outer needle and configured to connect a connector to the flow path, and a valve mechanism which opens and closes the flow path. The valve mechanism includes a valve element in the middle of the flow path having an openable/closable opening/closing section and an operation member having a side hole and configured to open and close the opening/closing section. The valve mechanism is positionable in a state in which the operation member penetrates through the opening/closing section to protrude therefrom and the side hole is located closer to the front end side than the opening/closing section. When infusion liquid is supplied in this state, the liquid flows to the flow path through the side hole and the dead space within the flow path is filled with the infusion liquid.