IV Drip Chamber Disk Valve for Rapid Priming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drip chambers require significant time and repetitive manual actions for priming, which can delay medical procedures and cause clinician fatigue.
Innovation Solution
A drip chamber assembly with a priming flow path and a disk valve that directs flow between the priming and drip paths, allowing for rapid priming and drip flow without manual actions, utilizing a chamber body with an inlet portion, priming port, drip port, and vent port for efficient fluid communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional drip chambers are used for priming, then the priming function is achieved, but significant time is required and repetitive manual actions are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet portion is segmented into separate priming and drip ports with a disk valve that can direct flow to either port independently. This segmentation allows the priming function to be separated from the drip function, enabling rapid priming through the priming port without requiring manual actions, while the drip port handles normal drip flow
Solution Approach 2:
The disk valve is pre-configured to direct flow to the priming port when needed, allowing rapid priming to occur before the drip function is activated. The valve mechanism is designed to facilitate quick switching between priming and drip modes, eliminating the need for repetitive manual actions during the priming phase
2Productivity
If a disk valve is added to direct flow between priming and drip ports, then rapid priming is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disk valve mechanism is merged with the inlet portion structure, where the valve body forms an integrated part of the inlet assembly. The priming and drip ports are combined within the same inlet portion, allowing the valve to switch between two flow paths without requiring separate valve housings or complex mounting structures
Solution Approach 2:
The disk valve serves multiple functions: it directs flow to the priming port for rapid priming, directs flow to the drip port for normal operation, and can be designed to allow both ports to receive flow simultaneously if needed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components
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
Enables rapid priming and drip flow, reducing procedural delays and clinician fatigue by accelerating the priming process and providing a visual indicator for flow rate monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a disk valve coupled to the inlet portion, wherein the disk valve is movable to direct flow from the inlet to the priming port in a first position and to direct flow from the inlet to the drip port in a second position
Data Source
AI summary
Drip chambers, burettes and other IV set components are described herein. An IV set component described herein comprises a chamber body, an inlet portion, and a disk valve. The chamber body defines a chamber volume and an outlet. The chamber volume is in fluid communication with the outlet. The inlet portion is coupled to the chamber body, the inlet portion defining an inlet, a priming port, a drip port. The inlet is in fluid communication with the priming port and the drip port, and the priming port and the drip port are each in fluid communication with the chamber volume. The disk valve is coupled to the inlet portion. The disk valve is movable to direct flow from the inlet to the priming port in a first position and to direct flow from the inlet to the drip port in a second position.