Breakage Resistant Luer Fitting with Fulcrum Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical fittings, such as those used in syringes and tubing, frequently break due to over-tightening or over-extending, leading to fluid spillage and delays in medical procedures, especially in time-sensitive situations.
Innovation Solution
A breakage-resistant fitting design featuring a male luer with a luer collar and an annular receptacle providing increased clearance to reduce stress and force between mating fittings, along with a fulcrum and inward expansion groove to accommodate and distribute forces, minimizing the likelihood of breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fittings are tightly connected to ensure a secure seal, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the risk of breakage due to over-tightening increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a recess at the base portion of the receptacle that acts as a fulcrum to accommodate and distribute compressive forces during tightening. This pre-designed stress distribution mechanism prevents force concentration that would otherwise lead to breakage, allowing the fitting to be tightly connected without exceeding strength limits.
2Reliability
If the fittings are extended further to ensure proper engagement, then the connection reliability is improved, but the risk of breakage due to over-extending increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recess at the base portion serves as a pre-designed fulcrum that engages before complete insertion, distributing tensile and compressive forces during the extension process. This prevents force concentration at critical points that would otherwise cause breakage when fittings are extended to ensure proper engagement.
3Strength
If the receptacle clearance is increased to reduce stress and force, then the breakage resistance is improved, but the sealing effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a recess at the base portion that provides localized stress distribution and clearance exactly where needed to prevent breakage, while maintaining tight clearance at the mating surfaces to ensure sealing effectiveness. This localized structural modification allows simultaneous achievement of breakage resistance and sealing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the invention, is directed to a luer fitting. The luer fitting may include a male luer, a luer collar disposed about the male luer, and a fulcrum disposed at a base portion of a receptacle between the male luer and the luer collar. Another aspect of the invention, is directed to a breakage resistant fitting. The breakage resistant fitting may include a male portion having a central fluid passage, a supplemental securement portion generally concentric with the male portion, and an annular receptacle between the male portion and the supplemental securement portion. The annular receptacle may include a base region having a mating clearance interspace sized substantially greater than a mating female fitting in a radial direction, or an axial direction, or a combination thereof.