Infusion Connector Valve Position Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors used in medical settings, such as those for infusion and blood transfusion, face issues where the valve body moves from its initial fixed position due to repeated opening and closing operations, leading to improper restoration and potential sealing failures.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring an elastic valve body with a slit, held by a housing with top and bottom face holding sections of different diameters, which prevents the valve body from moving by using annular grooves and projections to maintain its position even with repeated attachment and detachment of male connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the valve body is held between the tubular port body and annular ring with locking projections engaged with annular grooves, then the valve member is firmly fixed initially, but the valve body moves from its initial fixed position after repeated opening and closing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a resilient valve body that can dynamically adjust its position. The valve body is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to move slightly during operation and then automatically return to its initial position, maintaining stable sealing contact with the male connector insertion section even after repeated operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the valve body from rigid to resilient. By making the valve body elastically deformable, it can accommodate repeated opening and closing operations while maintaining its sealing function. The elastic properties allow the valve body to deform during operation and then recover to its original position, preventing position drift
2Manufacturing precision
If the valve body is firmly fixed using locking projections and annular grooves, then initial positioning is accurate, but the valve body cannot restore to initial position after detachment of male connector
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient valve body design allows the valve to be precisely positioned initially through the locking mechanism, then dynamically return to that position after operation. The elastic properties enable automatic restoration without requiring manual intervention or complex reset mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body has self-restoration capability through its elastic properties. After the male connector is detached and the valve body moves from its initial position, the elastic force automatically restores it to the original position, eliminating the need for external restoration mechanisms
3Ease of manufacture
If the valve body is held with equal diameter holding sections, then manufacturing is simple, but the valve body moves during repeated attachment and detachment operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric holding section design where the top face side holding section has a different diameter than the bottom face side holding section. This asymmetric configuration creates different friction forces and mechanical constraints on the valve body, preventing it from moving during repeated attachment and detachment operations while remaining manufacturable
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 connector effectively maintains the valve body's initial position, ensuring reliable sealing and preventing the accumulation of foreign substances, thus enhancing sanitation and the durability of the sealing performance.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic valve body (3) including a slit (14) and blocking the male connector insertion section (4)
Implementation Method 2
the housing (2) includes a holding section (34) in contact with the top face (10) and the bottom face (11) of the elastic valve body (3) to hold the elastic valve body (3)
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a housing defining a male connector insertion section into which a male connector is inserted from the outside and an elastic valve body having a slit and blocking the male connector insertion section. The elastic valve body includes a top face having the slit and a bottom face located opposite to the top face. The housing includes a holding section having contact with the top face and the bottom face of the elastic valve body to hold the elastic valve body. The holding section surrounds the slit when the valve body is viewed from the top face. The diameter of a bottom face side holding section having contact with the bottom face is smaller than the diameter of a top face side holding section having contact with the top face.