IV Set System with Color-Coded Bypass Manifold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IV set systems face challenges in identifying and accessing multiple IV sets during medical procedures, leading to confusion, entanglement, and increased risk due to lack of standardized labels and positioning, which complicates the administration of medications and fluids, especially in dynamic environments like operating rooms.
Innovation Solution
The IV set system incorporates a primary IV set with unique marking indicia and removably coupled secondary IV sets that can be physically and fluidly connected to minimize entanglement, with a manifold bypass device for regulating fluid sources and a merging fluid pathway to optimize fluid delivery, along with pre-coded components for historical data preservation and easy identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple IV sets are used to administer different medications and fluids, then the versatility and functionality of the system is improved, but the complexity of identifying and managing the IV sets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coding to IV set components including flow lines, access ports, and connectors. Different colors identify different functions (e.g., primary IV line, secondary IV line, blood product line, TPN line), enabling rapid visual differentiation without requiring reading labels or understanding complex documentation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high versatility through multiple IV sets while simplifying identification through intuitive color cues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the IV set system into distinctly identified components with unique color codes and visual markers. Each IV line, access port, and connector type has specific color coding and physical characteristics that differentiate it from other components. This segmentation allows multiple IV sets to be managed simultaneously with clear visual boundaries, reducing identification complexity while preserving system versatility.
2Ease of operation
If multiple access points are provided on IV sets for medication administration, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of confusion and incorrect access increases
Solution Approach 1:
Access ports are color-coded to match their corresponding IV flow lines and indicate specific medication types or administration routes. For example, different colored ports identify different medication compatibility zones, preventing incorrect connections. This maintains ease of access while eliminating confusion through consistent visual identification across all access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual markers and color-coded indicators as intermediary cues between the operator and the IV access points. These markers serve as a communication system that guides proper access without requiring verbal instructions or complex decision-making. The visual intermediaries reduce cognitive load and prevent errors by making the correct access point immediately apparent.
3Ease of operation
If standardized labeling and positioning are implemented on IV sets, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates color-coding directly into the IV set manufacturing process rather than adding separate label components. The colors are incorporated into the plastic material itself or as permanent markings on flow lines, access ports, and connectors. This approach provides standardized visual identification without adding removable labels, tags, or complex labeling systems, thus improving ease of operation without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Productivity
If multiple IV sets are bundled together for patient care, then the productivity of medical procedures is improved, but the entanglement and difficulty of accessing specific sets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses physical segmentation through color-coded grouping where IV sets intended to be bundled are organized by color or function. Different colored sets or sections of sets are spatially separated or grouped together, allowing medical personnel to quickly locate and access specific IV lines within a bundle without untangling the entire assembly. This maintains productivity through bundled organization while preserving ease of access through visual segmentation.
Data Source
AI summary
An intravenous (IV) set system comprising a primary IV set defining a primary flow line of the IV set system. The primary flow line can include multiple access points along its length and feeds to a merging fluid pathway proximate to the distal terminus of the primary IV set. At least one secondary IV set with corresponding flow lines can be separably joined to the primary IV set to cause the secondary flow lines to be in fluid communication with the primary flow line. At least one of the IV sets can have a unique set of uniform marking indicia to facilitate rapid identification of the IV sets from other IV sets within the IV set system. Such marked and identified primary and/or secondary IV sets can be allocated to specific medical functions and/or can be for use by specific medical personnel to thereby minimize risk of error in administration of an IV to a patient. The IV set system can further comprise a merging fluid pathway about a primary IV set.