Medical Infusion Flow Component Axial Cavity Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing flow components for medical infusion/transfusion lines require significant operator effort and risk needle bending or breakage due to improper alignment and angle of the fluid introducer, leading to incomplete traversal of the elastic sealing element and potential fluid injection blockages.
Innovation Solution
The elastic sealing element features an axial cavity on the external annular arrest forming a thin diaphragm, facilitating easier traversal and centering of the fluid introducer, with conical surfaces aiding alignment and reducing the risk of misalignment, and a second cavity on the internal arrest for symmetrical mounting, allowing reversible assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic sealing element has a thick cylindrical body, then sealing integrity is maintained, but operator effort increases and needle breakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic sealing element is segmented into two functional zones: an external cylindrical body maintaining sealing integrity and an internal axial cavity creating a thin diaphragm region. This segmentation allows the needle to traverse only the thin diaphragm portion, significantly reducing operator effort while the external cylindrical body maintains sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic sealing element exhibits local quality variation with a thin diaphragm region (approximately 1-2mm thickness) at the traversal zone and a thicker cylindrical body (approximately 5-7mm thickness) at the sealing zones. This local quality differentiation enables easy needle traversal through the thin region while preserving sealing integrity through the thicker external body.
2Productivity
If the needle is pushed against the elastic sealing element, then fluid injection is achieved, but needle flexure and breakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The axial cavity is pre-formed during manufacturing of the elastic sealing element, creating a guided pathway that preliminarily positions and aligns the needle before it reaches the traversal zone. This preliminary action reduces the risk of needle flexure and breakage by ensuring proper alignment is established in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The thin diaphragm formed by the axial cavity acts as an intermediary structure between the needle and the external environment. It provides a controlled traversal path that reduces the force required for needle penetration while maintaining structural integrity, thereby reducing needle breakage risk.
3Ease of operation
If the needle is inserted at an off-centre condition or angle, then insertion is possible, but complete traversal is prevented and fluid injection is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The axial cavity is positioned asymmetrically within the elastic sealing element, creating a conical traversal zone that guides the needle toward the center. This asymmetric design ensures that even if the needle is inserted at slight off-centre conditions or angles, the conical geometry redirects it to traverse the diaphragm completely, preventing fluid injection blockages.
Solution Approach 2:
The axial cavity is formed with a conical surface having a specific angle (approximately 30-45 degrees), creating a curved guidance path for the needle. This conical geometry ensures that the needle naturally follows the curved surface toward the center of the diaphragm, ensuring complete traversal even from slightly off-axis insertion angles.
4Ease of manufacture
If the elastic sealing element is made symmetrical for reversible assembly, then assembly ease is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic sealing element features an asymmetric internal structure (axial cavity with conical surface) within an otherwise symmetric external cylindrical body. This design provides reversible assembly capability through the symmetric external dimensions while the internal asymmetric cavity provides the necessary functional guidance for needle traversal, balancing assembly ease with manufacturing feasibility.
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 design reduces operator effort and the risk of needle misalignment, ensuring proper fluid injection while maintaining sealing integrity and allowing for easy assembly and use with both conventional and needle-less fluid introducers.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic sealing element (5) housed in a fluid-tight way within said inlet connector (3)
Data Source
AI summary
A flow component for medical infusion/transfusion lines includes a tubular body having a side inlet connector, housed in a fluid-tight way in which is an elastic sealing element that can be traversed by a fluid introducer. The elastic sealing element has at least one axial cavity, which defines, for traversal by the fluid introducer, a diaphragm of small thickness.