Infusion Set Three-Way Stopcock Priming Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infusion sets pose a risk of hazardous medical solutions leaking during the priming operation, exposing operators to potentially dangerous drugs like anti-cancer agents.
Innovation Solution
An infusion set with a three-way stopcock configuration that allows for separate priming with a less hazardous solution before using the hazardous drug, minimizing exposure by isolating the hazardous drug flow channel during the second priming step.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single flow channel is used for priming and administration, then the device structure is simple, but the risk of hazardous drug leakage to the external environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow channel is divided into multiple separate channels: a first flow channel for priming operations and a second flow channel for hazardous drug administration. This segmentation isolates the hazardous drug flow path from the priming operations, preventing leakage during priming while maintaining structural organization through dedicated pathways for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the three-way stopcock allows communication between all flow channels, then operational flexibility is improved, but the risk of simultaneous communication between hazardous drug channel and external environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
A three-way stopcock is introduced as an intermediary device that controls communication between flow channels. The stopcock's handle is designed with limited pivoting range to act as a safety mediator, preventing direct communication between the hazardous drug flow channel and the external environment while still enabling necessary flow control and channel switching during administration.
3Ease of operation
If the handle can be pivoted to any position, then flow control flexibility is improved, but the possibility of accidental communication between hazardous drug channel and external environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed with dynamic positioning capability within a limited range, allowing pivoting between specific positions to control flow while preventing movement into positions that would create unsafe communication paths. This dynamic constraint maintains operational flexibility for legitimate flow control while dynamically blocking hazardous exposure pathways.
Data Source
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AI summary
An infusion set (1) includes a first flow channel (10) constituted by a pliable tube (10a) and including a spike (11) provided at one end thereof, a second flow channel (20) constituted by a pliable tube (20a) and including a lock connector (50) provided at one end thereof, the lock connector (50) including a lock mechanism (60) that is brought into engagement with a female connector (200), a third flow channel (30) constituted by pliable tubes (30a, 30b and 30c) and including a male connector (31) provided at one end thereof, and a three-way stopcock (40) to which another end of the first flow channel, another end of the second flow channel and another end of the third flow channel are connected. The three-way stopcock includes a handle (41) that can be switched between a first position that brings the first flow channel and the third flow channel into communication with each other and a second position that brings the second flow channel and the third flow channel into communication with each other.