IV Fluid Connection Device with Segmented Rigid Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current intravenous administration systems pose significant safety risks, including ligature, disassembly, and weaponization risks, particularly in psychiatric settings, which require additional resources and increase healthcare costs.

Innovation Solution

The development of intravenous administration systems featuring a fluid connection device with a housing comprising rigid and joint segments that limit flexibility and prevent ligature, combined with an access device having a breakaway or retractable spike member to mitigate weaponization risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional flexible IV tubing is used, then ease of operation is improved, but ligature risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidligature risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple rigid segments (first rigid segment, second rigid segment, third rigid segment) connected by joint segments. This segmentation maintains structural integrity and prevents ligature formation while allowing controlled movement for proper fluid connection device positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing transitions from flexible material to rigid segments with controlled joint mobility. The joint segments are configured to bend only to predetermined angles (e.g., 45 degrees), changing the physical parameters of flexibility to rigidity with controlled articulation points, thereby eliminating ligature risk while maintaining operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If traditional IV access devices with exposed spikes are used, then ease of operation is improved, but weaponization risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidweaponization risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spike member is nested within the shaft of the base member when not in use. The housing provides a protective enclosure that contains the sharp spike, preventing its use as a weapon while allowing it to extend for its intended puncturing function during proper device operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful spike component is extracted from direct exposure and isolated within the protected housing structure. The spike remains functional for its intended purpose but is removed from the accessible environment where it could cause harm, effectively separating its useful function from its potential harmful function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional IV administration systems are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but disassembly risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddisassembly risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing segments are merged into a unified structure with interlocking joints that prevent separation. The first, second, and third rigid segments are connected through joint segments that maintain fixed geometric relationships, making disassembly difficult and preventing tampering while allowing the device to be manufactured as an integrated unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If rigid housing segments are used, then ligature risk is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveligature riskVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into modular rigid sections connected by standardized joint segments. This segmentation allows the complex structure to be manufactured and assembled from standardized components, reducing overall complexity while maintaining the ligature-prevention benefits of rigid construction with controlled articulation points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12280238B2IV administration system configured to prevent self-inflicted injury

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 EMORY UNIVERSITY

AI summary

The devices and systems can allow for safe and cost-effective administration intravenous medication, for example, in psychiatric settings by mitigating ligature, disassembly, and weaponization risks associated with intravenous administration. The system may include a fluid connection device. The fluid connection device may include an internal conduit configured to deliver a medical fluid and a housing disposed in which the internal conduit is disposed. The housing may include a first rigid segment and a second rigid segment spaced from the first rigid segment. The housing may also include a first joint segment disposed between the first rigid segment and the second rigid segment and configured to bend to the predetermined bending angle with respect to the first rigid segment.