Infusion Pump Door Seal for Vertical IV Tube Contaminant Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infusion pumps face issues with contamination from dust, moisture, and fluid leaks entering the actuation area due to manufacturing tolerance gaps between the door and pump casing, affecting actuator operation and requiring frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An improved door seal configuration that encloses the actuation area using a gasket rib and tube channel, cradling the IV tube to prevent contaminants from entering, while being agnostic to manufacturing tolerances and compatible with standard IV tubes, reducing the need for specialized components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gaps are designed into the infusion pump to reduce stress on IV lines and prevent occlusion, then IV line reliability is improved, but contaminants can enter the actuation area through these gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is divided into a contaminated external environment and a protected internal actuation area, with the door assembly acting as a barrier that segments the space while maintaining IV line functionality through dedicated passageways
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly with its integrated tube passage acts as an intermediary structure that allows IV lines to pass through while blocking contaminant ingress, mediating between the need for stress reduction and contamination prevention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a door seal is positioned at the edge of the door to prevent contaminant ingress, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing tolerance variations cause the seal to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is positioned inward from the door edge to create a buffer zone that compensates for manufacturing tolerance variations, cushioning against the cumulative effect of tolerances before they can compromise sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing approach transitions from relying on precise edge-to-edge alignment in two dimensions to using an inward offset position that creates a three-dimensional buffer zone, changing the dimensional relationship between seal and door edge
3Object-affected harmful factors
If specialized IV line sets with integrated cassettes or over-molds are used to seal the actuation area, then contaminant ingress is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural closure, creates the sealing surface for the gasket, guides the IV tube through integrated passages, and prevents contaminant ingress, eliminating the need for separate specialized components
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly merges the sealing function, tube guidance function, and contaminant barrier function into a single integrated structure, combining multiple functions that would otherwise require separate specialized components
Data Source
AI summary
An infusion pump for delivering an intravenous (“IV”) fluid includes a housing having a vertical orientation when the infusion pump is positioned for operation. The housing has a top side configured to engage a portion of an IV tube. The top side includes a tube window configured to enable the portion of the IV tube to pass through the top side of the housing. The infusion pump also includes a door hingedly connected to the housing. The door is configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position. The door includes a roof configured to contact the top side of the housing. The door includes a lip configured to enable the portion of the IV tube to pass through the door.