Infusion Pump Cradle with Guided Septum Piercing for Leak Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion pump systems face issues with septum sealing due to improper piercing, leading to leakage and reduced sealing behavior, especially in modular designs where septa are pierced non-perpendicularly or along inclined paths, causing asymmetric forces and stretching/compression effects.
Innovation Solution
A cradle design with a movably mounted inner piercing core and/or a guide that ensures perpendicular and straight piercing of the septum, using a pivotable arm or linear guiding path to maintain radial symmetry and prevent deflection, thereby enhancing sealing behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a pierceable septum is used to establish fluid connections, then complicated and expensive connecting members can be avoided, but the sealing property of the septum significantly decreases with every additional piercing event leading to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The septum is made movable relative to the cradle base, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position during piercing events. This dynamic capability enables the septum to maintain proper sealing geometry even after multiple piercing cycles, resolving the contradiction between simple connection structure and durable sealing property.
2Ease of operation
If the septum is pierced in a non-perpendicular manner, then manual introduction of the transfer cannula is simplified, but the sealing behavior of the septum deteriorates and leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the cannula and the septum. This guide ensures that the cannula pierces the septum in a perpendicular manner by providing a mechanical constraint, thereby maintaining reliable sealing behavior while keeping the operation simple.
3Ease of operation
If the piercing path is not straight, then manual piercing is easier, but multiple puncturing paths are generated and the sealing property decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is positioned in advance to define a straight piercing path before the cannula reaches the septum. This preliminary guidance ensures that only a single, straight piercing path is created, maintaining sealing property while keeping the operation easy.
4Ease of operation
If the septum is pierced at an inclined angle, then the device can be made flat for increased wearing comfort, but the sealing behavior is compromised due to asymmetric forces
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure acts as an intermediary that ensures perpendicular piercing even when the device is worn flat. This mediator maintains the sealing geometry by constraining the piercing direction, allowing the device to remain flat for comfort while preserving reliable sealing behavior.
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 cradle design significantly improves septum sealing by ensuring perpendicular piercing, reducing leakage and increasing the number of coupling and decoupling events before leakage becomes a problem, while maintaining discreet and comfortable wear.
Implementation Method 1
The ribbon is configured such that the inner piercing core of the pierceable septum is movable with respect to the cradle base
Implementation Method 2
The guide is configured such that it provides a linear guiding path along the piercing axis of the pierceable septum
Implementation Method 3
the sealing behavior of the septum significantly decreases with every additional piercing event
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed is a cradle (1) for an infusion pump unit, wherein the cradle (1) has a proximal side (23) and a distal side (21), wherein the distal side (21) has an infusion pump unit attachment structure (22) for attaching an initially separate infusion pump unit. The cradle (1) comprises a cradle base (2), a flow channel (3) for a liquid drug, and a pierceable septum (4), wherein the pierceable septum (4) covers an opening of the flow channel (3) and seals the flow channel (3), and wherein at least an inner piercing core of the pierceable septum (4) is movably mounted with respect to the cradle base (2).