IV Bag Float Valve for Automatic Tubing Flush
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravenous bag attachment devices fail to automatically flush intravenous tubes without breaking the closed system, leading to medication waste and increased infection risk due to frequent system breaches during medication administration.
Innovation Solution
A tubular member with a float valve mechanism is inserted into the intravenous bag, automatically releasing a flushing solution when the liquid level falls below a threshold, ensuring complete infusion and maintaining the closed system integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional intravenous tubing is designed to last 96 hours while intravenous bags are changed every 24 hours, then the tubing can be reused multiple times, but medication waste occurs when bags are changed before complete infusion
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is pre-installed on the intravenous bag before use. It contains a reservoir pre-filled with flushing solution and a float valve mechanism that is ready to automatically flush the tubing when the bag empties, preventing medication waste before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve mechanism automatically detects when the intravenous bag is empty and triggers the flushing solution to release, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system serves itself by monitoring liquid level and initiating the flush cycle autonomously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If medical professionals manually switch between multiple secondary intravenous tubes during medication administration, then different medications can be administered, but the closed system is broken increasing infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device maintains the closed system continuously throughout the entire medication administration process. The automatic flush mechanism ensures uninterrupted fluid flow and prevents system breaches, allowing versatile medication administration without breaking sterility.
Solution Approach 2:
The flushing solution acts as an intermediary that clears the tubing between different medication infusions. This allows multiple medications to be administered through the same closed system without direct contamination, maintaining sterility while providing flexibility.
3Loss of substance
If intravenous bags are emptied completely to avoid waste, then medication utilization is optimized, but air enters the tubing which could be lethal to patients
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is prepared in advance with flushing solution in the reservoir. When the bag empties, the pre-positioned float valve automatically activates the flush, ensuring medication is fully utilized while preventing air entry through the preliminary preparation of the flushing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve provides continuous feedback on the liquid level in the intravenous bag. When the liquid level drops to the threshold, the float valve triggers the flushing solution release, creating a feedback loop that optimizes medication utilization while preventing air embolism through real-time monitoring.
4Reliability
If a float valve mechanism is added to automatically detect liquid level and trigger flushing, then complete infusion is ensured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The float valve mechanism is a self-regulating device that automatically detects liquid level and controls the flushing solution release without external control systems. This simple mechanical self-service approach ensures complete infusion while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve utilizes hydraulic principles where the buoyant force of the float directly controls the valve opening. This passive hydraulic mechanism provides reliable automatic detection and triggering without complex electronics or additional power sources.
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 significantly reduces medication waste and minimizes the risk of infection by ensuring complete infusion of antibiotics and preventing air from entering the tubing, thus optimizing the use of intravenous medication and maintaining a sterile delivery system.
Implementation Method 1
The ball float is configured to produce an upward buoyant force when the amount of liquid remaining in the intravenous bag is above the predefined threshold
Implementation Method 2
When the amount of liquid remaining in the intravenous bag is below the predefined threshold, the ball float sinks under the influence of gravity, thereby opening the float valve
Implementation Method 3
The flexible joint is configured to point the distal end of the tubular member upward into a closed position, wherein the float valve does not allow the flushing solution to flow through the outlet, due to the buoyant force of the ball float
Data Source
AI summary
An intravenous bag attachment for automatically flushing remnants out from an intravenous line after the contents of a connected intravenous bag have emptied out. The attachment includes a container having a tubular member in fluid communication with an interior volume designed to hold a flushing solution. The tubular member is designed to create an opening and be inserted into an intravenous bag, and to act as a float valve that will remain closed while the amount of liquid remaining in the intravenous bag is above a predefined threshold, and that will open once the amount of liquid remaining in the intravenous bag falls below the predefined threshold. The float valve further includes a ball float designed to keep the tubular member upright, such that the float valve is closed, and to allow the flushing solution to exit through the tubular member when the float valve is open.