Infusion Container Corner Grooves Prevent Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Infusion solution containers deform during liquid discharge and sterilization, leading to liquid remaining inside and inefficiencies in use.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a box-shaped portion with orthogonal rectangular cross-section, grooves in corner portions, and a ridge portion that enhances rigidity, limiting deformation during liquid discharge and sterilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the container is made with a simple box-shaped structure for easy manufacture, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the container deforms during liquid discharge and sterilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidcontainer shape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding grooves specifically to the corner portions of the box-shaped container rather than changing the entire structure. These grooves are strategically positioned at the corners where structural reinforcement is most needed to prevent deformation during liquid discharge and sterilization, while maintaining the overall simplicity of the box-shaped design for easy manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the container walls are made thin to reduce material usage, then material consumption is reduced, but the container deforms more easily during use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial consumptionVSAvoidcontainer strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses local quality by concentrating structural reinforcement at the corner portions through grooves rather than uniformly thickening all walls. This allows the container to use less material overall while still providing sufficient strength and deformation resistance at the critical corner areas where stress concentrates during liquid discharge and sterilization processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3524223B1container
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 NIPRO CORP
  • EP3524223B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3524223B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3524223B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A container includes a film portion (4) at one end thereof. The container includes a liquid outlet port at the other end on an opposite side of the one end. A liquid is discharged through the liquid outlet port. The container further includes a box-shaped portion (3). A direction in which a straight line passing through each of a center position of the film portion (4) and a center position of the liquid drug outlet port extends is defined as a first direction (DR1). The box-shaped portion (3) has a cross section that is orthogonal to the first direction (DR1) and formed in an approximately rectangular shape. In at least one of corner portions (11) of the approximately rectangular shape, the box-shaped portion (3) is provided with a groove (12) extending in parallel to the first direction (DR1).