Medical Connector Integrating Guide Element and Piercing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for medical active substance containers are complex, expensive, and prone to contamination due to multiple moving parts and seals, making them difficult to manufacture and handle effectively.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a guide element that serves as both a channel for transferring medical substances and a bearing for the axially movable piercing element, reducing the number of components and interfaces, and allowing for a self-sealing mechanism that minimizes contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple moving parts and seals are used in the connector, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the guide element and bearing into a single integrated component. The guide element serves dual functions: guiding the piercing element and providing bearing support. This merging eliminates the need for separate bearing components and reduces the number of interfaces that would require sealing, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a guide for the piercing element, provides bearing support through its wall structure, and forms part of the sealing interface. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed in the connector system.
2Reliability
If multiple seals and moving parts are included in the connector, then the sealing performance is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the guide element and bearing into one component, the number of separate parts requiring assembly and sealing is reduced. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process as fewer components need to be produced, assembled, and sealed together, while the integrated design maintains adequate sealing performance through the guide element's wall structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the connector includes many sealing interfaces, then the contamination protection is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of guide element and bearing reduces the number of interfaces in the connector. Fewer interfaces mean fewer potential contamination pathways while also reducing the complexity of assembly and handling operations, thereby improving ease of operation without significantly compromising contamination protection.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a connector for a container including a medicinal active ingredient which enables the active ingredient to be transferred from one container to another container. The connector (1, 1') according to the invention comprises a first connection region (3, 3') for connecting a first container (2, 2'), a guide element (4, 4'), a piercing element (5, 5') and a partition (6), wherein the guide element (4, 4') has a channel (7) designed for transferring a medicinal active ingredient, the piercing element (5, 5') is arranged at least in sections in the channel (7) and is axially movably guided within the channel (7) by the guide element (4, 4') and, by connecting a container (2, 2') in the first connection region (3, 3'), the piercing element (5, 5') is movable from a starting position, in which the piercing element (5, 5') does not open the partition (6), to an end position, in which the piercing element (5, 5') opens the partition (6) for transferring a medicinal active ingredient.