Luer Cone Valve with Diaphragm for Medical Lines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow systems for medical lines, such as those used in haemodialysis, face issues with valve opening mechanisms being mechanically activated, leading to potential contamination and leakage due to premature opening before a hermetic seal is established between the male and female luer cones.
Innovation Solution
The lateral tubular fitting is designed with a locally thinned side wall and made of a compliant material, allowing for precise and reliable valve opening upon insertion of the male luer-cone introducer, utilizing radial expansion and axial projections on the diaphragm to ensure a hermetic seal and prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical activation system with an auxiliary slider is used to open the valve, then the valve opening is controlled, but the device complexity increases and the risk of premature opening before hermetic seal is established increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the auxiliary slider component from the valve activation mechanism. Instead of using a complex mechanical activation system with separate sliding components, the patent relies on the direct mechanical interaction between the male luer-cone introducer and the female luer-cone fitting, where the introduction of fluid itself provides the axial thrust to open the valve through the diaphragm's elastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve activation system becomes self-regulating through the elastic properties of the diaphragm and the geometric design of the luer-cone interfaces. The system automatically ensures proper sequencing: the male luer-cone must first establish hermetic seal with the female luer-cone, and only then can it apply sufficient axial thrust to deform the diaphragm and open the valve. This eliminates the need for separate mechanical control components.
2Reliability
If an auxiliary slider is used to activate the valve, then valve opening is controlled, but the risk of contamination and leakage increases due to premature opening
Solution Approach 1:
The design ensures that the hermetic seal between the male and female luer-cone interfaces is established before the valve opening action occurs. The geometric design of the luer-cone interfaces and the elastic deformation characteristics of the diaphragm guarantee that the introducing component must first achieve proper sealing contact before it can apply sufficient axial force to open the valve, thereby preventing contamination and leakage.
3Manufacturing precision
If the lateral tubular fitting is made with locally thinned side wall and compliant material, then radial expansion is achieved for precise valve opening, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral tubular fitting is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, featuring a locally thinned section at the critical radial expansion area while maintaining normal wall thickness in other regions. This local quality variation allows the fitting to expand radially only where needed during valve activation, providing precise control over the opening mechanism while maintaining structural integrity and ease of manufacturing in other areas.
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
This design ensures a precise and reliable opening of the valve without risk of contamination, maintaining fluid integrity and preventing leakage during fluid introduction or extraction in medical lines.
Implementation Method 1
a diaphragm (10) constituted by the bottom wall of a cup-shaped element (8) made of elastically deformable material
Implementation Method 2
The radial expansion of the lateral tubular fitting is conveniently obtained envisaging that its side wall is locally thinned axially
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A flow system for medical lines comprising a flow component (1) having a main duct (2) and at least one lateral tubular fitting (3) with female luer cone (4) communicating with the main duct (2) through a valve (8), which includes a transverse diaphragm (10) normally kept in fluid-tight contact against an annular valve seat (12) of the lateral tubular fitting (3), which can be moved away from this into an opening position following upon insertion of a male luer-cone introducer of fluid (H) into the lateral tubular fitting (3). The diaphragm (10) is prearranged for being pushed into the opening position directly by the introducer (H), and the lateral tubular fitting (3) is configured in such a way as to couple in a fluid-tight way with the introducer (H) before the latter comes into contact of thrust with the diaphragm (10).