Inline Injection Port Assembly with Self-Sealing Elastomeric Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection ports for tissue expanders require complex suturing, are bulky, and often necessitate a needle stop plate, leading to inefficient fluid flow and increased size, which complicates surgeries and patient care.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile inline injection port assembly with a tubular port body and an aligned barbed tubing connector, integrated with a self-sealing elastomeric cap structure that eliminates the need for dual barb connectors and needle stop plates, allowing for direct suturing and improved fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dual barb tubing connector is used to attach tissue expander tubing and injection port tubing, then the connection is secure, but the surgical complexity increases requiring suturing of both tubing pieces to the connector
Solution Approach 1:
The injection port is directly integrated onto the tissue expander tubing, eliminating the separate dual barb connector assembly. This merging of components reduces the number of parts requiring suturing while maintaining secure connection through the integrated design
2Device complexity
If prior art injection ports are made flat in structure with tubing exiting from the edge, then the structure is simple, but the outside diameter must be larger to accommodate 90 degree fluid flow direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
The injection area is repositioned to exit in line with the fill tubing rather than at a 90 degree angle from the edge. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the port to maintain a smaller outside diameter while achieving the same fluid flow function
3Reliability
If a needle stop plate structure is added to restrict hypodermic needle penetration, then needle penetration is restricted, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The needle stop plate component is completely removed from the design. Instead of adding a separate stopping mechanism, the injection port structure itself is designed to naturally prevent excessive needle penetration through its geometric configuration
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 solution reduces the size and complexity of injection ports, enhancing surgical efficiency, particularly in pediatric cases and for chemotherapy patients, by simplifying the injection process and minimizing skin punctures while maintaining effective fluid flow.
Implementation Method 1
The elastomeric cap structure has an injection area and a downwardly extending cylindrical portion and may be comprised of an elastomer such as a compressed silicone rubber, for example. The tubular cup body of the inline injection port assembly integrates the rigid barb tubing connector and also compresses the cylindrical portion of the cap structure thereby allowing for multiple injections with a hypodermic needle.
Data Source
AI summary
An inline injection port assembly having a rigid tubular port body with a cap structure mounted thereto and a barbed tubing connector extending from the opposite end thereof. The cap structure has to a self-sealing elastomeric injection structure which extends into the port body and which is held in a compressed state therein. The cap structure and the barbed tubing connector are axially aligned to thereby provide a low profile inline injection port assembly.