Male Reflux Valve Automated Assembly via Segmented Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing male reflux valves in the medical industry are difficult to assemble using automated equipment during manufacturing, leading to increased manufacturing costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A male reflux valve design featuring an elastomeric valve element retained in the distal body portion by a core and a cannula-shaped actuator within the proximal body portion, which is reciprocally and rotatably positioned to open and close the valve upon engagement and disengagement, along with anti-rotation features to prevent twisting torque during assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If prior art male reflux valves are designed with traditional valve elements and assembly structures, then fluid control function is achieved, but automated assembly difficulty increases and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element is divided into a head portion and a body portion that can be separately manufactured and then assembled. The head portion includes a valve element retention groove that receives the valve element body, allowing modular assembly. This segmentation enables automated assembly equipment to handle each component independently, reducing assembly difficulty while maintaining the fluid control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element is nested within the head portion of the valve body, with the valve element retention groove providing a receptacle for the valve element body. The actuator is nested within the proximal body portion, with anti-rotation features integrated into the nesting structure. This nested arrangement allows compact design while facilitating automated assembly through straightforward insertion and retention mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional valve elements are used without retention structures, then device simplicity is maintained, but valve element positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The head portion of the valve body is designed with a localized valve element retention groove that provides precise positioning for the valve element body. This groove is specifically shaped to receive and retain the valve element at the correct position and orientation. The localized retention structure ensures high positioning precision without requiring complex retention mechanisms throughout the entire device.
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
Facilitates automated assembly and reduces manufacturing costs by ensuring efficient and cost-effective production of male reflux valves while maintaining fluid control and preventing reflux.
Implementation Method 1
the check valve is moved to a compressed state to unseat the check valve from the valve seat and allow bidirectional fluid flow through the valve
Implementation Method 2
the check valve returns to its natural state to reseat itself against the valve seat thereby once again precluding fluid flow through the valve
Data Source
AI summary
A male reflux valve comprising a distal body portion and a proximal body portion, the proximal body portion having a male connection for connection to a female connection of an access device, a valve element operatively positioned within the distal body portion, a core operatively positioned within the distal body portion to retain the valve element into sealing engagement with the distal body portion and an actuator reciprocably retained within a generally circular cylindrical longitudinal bore of the proximal body portion in engagement with the valve element to open the valve element when engaged by the female connection of the access device.