IV Back Check Valve With Forced-Open Blood Aspiration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing back check valves in intravenous systems pose challenges during blood aspiration, drip chamber refilling, and back-priming of secondary lines, leading to risks of catheter-related bloodstream infections, clotting, and drug incompatibility due to their design, which often requires complex structures that can cause blood clotting and are not suitable for all IV system configurations.
Innovation Solution
A valve device with a housing, plunger, and flexible tubing that allows selective control of fluid flow direction, enabling the valve to be set to an open or closed state by altering the length of the flexible tubing, allowing upstream flow when necessary, thus overcoming the limitations of traditional back check valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional back check valve is placed in close proximity of the VAD to prevent backflow, then backflow prevention is improved, but the ability to aspirate blood is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The valve device incorporates a flexible membrane that can dynamically change its state between blocking and allowing upstream flow. The membrane is biased to block upstream flow under normal conditions, but can be actively opened by applying force to the plunger, enabling bidirectional control of fluid flow direction
Solution Approach 2:
A plunger acts as an intermediary element between the user's manual force and the flexible membrane. The plunger transmits applied force to the membrane, causing it to deform and open the upstream flow path, thereby enabling blood aspiration while maintaining backflow prevention capability
2Ease of operation
If an anti-reflux valve is positioned further apart from the VAD with an access port between them, then blood aspiration is enabled, but blood spillage and infection risk increase at the access port
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane dynamically adapts to flow conditions, remaining closed to block upstream flow during normal operation, thus preventing blood spillage at the access port while still allowing downstream infusion flow and enabling blood aspiration when actively opened
3Reliability
If a back check valve is used to prevent drug intermixing, then drug separation is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve utilizes a flexible membrane instead of complex mechanical components. The membrane's flexibility allows it to respond to pressure differences and actively open/close, providing reliable drug separation with a simple, compact structure that reduces overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane automatically responds to pressure changes in the system, opening or closing based on flow direction and pressure differential, without requiring external control mechanisms or complex actuation systems
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 valve device reduces the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections and drug incompatibility by allowing controlled fluid flow, maintaining patency of the IV system, and enabling safe refilling and priming procedures without the need for anticoagulants, while maintaining a compact and lean design.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible tubing (11) having a distal end (10b) fixedly arranged to the housing (1), thereby forming a first fixing portion (25) of the flexible tubing; wherein the plunger (16) having a proximal end (19a) being arranged to the flexible tubing (11), thereby forming a second fixing portion (26) of the flexible tubing
Implementation Method 2
allowing a fluid flow in a downstream direction in the open state from the proximal end (5a) of the housing (1) to the distal end (5b) of the housing (1), and restricting a fluid flow in an upstream direction in the closed state from the distal end (5b) of the housing (1) to the proximal end (5a) of the housing (1)
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E
AI summary
A valve device (100; 200; 300) is disclosed. The valve device is configured to be set from an open state or a closed state to a forced open state. The valve device (100; 200; 300) allows a fluid flow in a downstream direction in the open state from a proximal end (2a; 202a; 302a) of the housing (1; 201; 301) to a distal end (2b; 202b; 302b) of the housing (1; 201; 301), and restricts a fluid flow in an upstream direction in the closed state from the distal end (2b; 202b; 302b) to the proximal end (2a; 202a; 302a) of the housing (1; 201; 301). When the valve device (100; 200; 300) is selectively set in the forced open state, a fluid flow in the upstream direction from the distal end (2b; 202b; 302b) to the proximal end (2a; 202a; 302a) of the housing (1; 201; 301) is allowed. When the valve device (100; 200; 300) is selectively set from an open state or closed state to the forced open state by affecting the length of a flexible tubing (11; 211; 311) as seen between its first fixing portion (25; 225; 325) and its second fixing portion (26; 226; 326) a plunger (16; 216; 316) is displaced relative the housing (1; 201; 301).