Luer Lock Connector Seal with Elastic Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Luer connections in medical technology often experience leaks due to dimensional or shape deviations, surface damage, and viscoelastic flow of plastic, leading to increased tensile stresses and potential fractures when attempting to enhance tightness.
Innovation Solution
A connection part with an elastic seal designed to compensate for surface deviations and prevent loosening, featuring a conical area with a sealing ring that can deform to ensure a fluid-tight connection with reduced joining force, manufactured as a two-component injection molded part with a thermoplastic elastomer seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If joining force is increased to improve sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but tensile stresses increase causing cracks or fractures
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic seal element is introduced as an intermediary between the connection part and the Luer connector. This seal deforms under compression to create a fluid-tight barrier, eliminating the need for high joining forces that would otherwise be required to ensure sealing. The seal absorbs the sealing function while protecting the connection parts from excessive tensile stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism transitions from relying on high mechanical joining forces to using elastic deformation of the seal element. By changing the sealing parameter from force-dependent contact to elastic compression, the system achieves reliable sealing at lower joining forces, preventing cracks and fractures in the connection parts.
2Reliability
If dimensional or shape deviations occur in Luer cone, then connection tightness deteriorates, but increasing joining force causes damage
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic seal element provides localized compliance at the sealing interface. Its elastic properties allow it to adapt to dimensional or shape deviations in the Luer cone geometry, maintaining sealing contact locally without requiring high overall joining forces that would damage the connection parts.
3Reliability
If surface damage occurs on Luer cone, then sealing contact is compromised, but higher joining force causes fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic seal acts as a mediator that bridges surface imperfections on the Luer cone. Its compliance allows it to conform to damaged or scratched surfaces, maintaining sealing effectiveness without requiring increased joining forces that would cause fractures in the connection parts.
4Stability of the object's composition
If viscoelastic flow of plastic occurs, then connection loosening occurs, but preventing it requires higher joining force
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism replaces reliance on high mechanical joining forces with elastic deformation of the seal element. This substitution prevents connection loosening due to viscoelastic flow because the elastic seal maintains sealing contact through its material properties rather than through sustained high mechanical forces that would cause plastic deformation and loosening over time.
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
The solution provides a reliable, low-force connection that reduces the risk of damage and wedging, maintains sealing effectiveness, and prevents viscoelastic flow, ensuring a consistent seal without the need for reconnection.
Implementation Method 1
The seal, which is designed to be elastic, has good resilience. This seal can be used to compensate for dimensional and shape deviations as well as damage to the contact surfaces of a connected Luer or Luer-Lock connector by deforming the seal accordingly.
Implementation Method 2
Furthermore, the viscoelastic flow of the plastic can also lead to a loosening of the Luer connection and thus to leaks, which occurs in particular during longer storage periods or when devices with pre-connected Luer connections are delivered.
Data Source
AI summary
The part (5'') has a conical region (20'') for contacting a conical connecting surface of a standardized Luer Taper or a Luer-Lock connector. A seal i.e. sealing ring (45'') is arranged at free axial ends on the conical region in a form-fit manner, and is made of elastomer e.g. silicon rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. A conical surface of the conical region possesses a specific percentage of inclination, so that the conical region is in contact with the conical connecting surface of the Luer-Lock connector in a flat manner.