Medical Connector With Switchable Lid for Venting and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical connectors do not effectively seal the connection ports after vapor sterilization, requiring separate clamping devices to prevent leakage of priming solution, which complicates the disposal process.
Innovation Solution
A medical connector with a switchable lid portion that can be toggled between a closed and ventilated state, ensuring tight sealing without additional clamping devices, using a locking mechanism and a cap-like design to facilitate easy sterilization and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cap for covering the other-side connection port allows ventilation of vapor used in vapor sterilization, then sterilization is enabled, but the connection port cannot be sealed after sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The lid portion is designed to be switchable between two states: a first state where it covers the connection port to allow vapor sterilization, and a second state where it seals the connection port by contacting the locking portion. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction by enabling both ventilation during sterilization and sealing after sterilization through a single movable component.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid portion is divided into a covering portion and a closing portion that work together. The covering portion allows vapor passage during sterilization, while the closing portion engages with the locking portion to seal the connection port. This segmentation enables the lid to perform both ventilation and sealing functions through different parts.
2Reliability
If a separately provided clamping device is used to seal the connection port after sterilization, then leakage is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function previously requiring a separate clamping device is merged into the lid portion itself. The lid portion integrates both the covering function (for sterilization) and the sealing function (for leakage prevention) into a single component, eliminating the need for additional clamping devices and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid portion is designed to automatically seal the connection port by engaging with the locking portion when switched to the second state. This self-sealing mechanism eliminates the need for separate clamping devices operated by the worker, making the sealing process simpler and more reliable.
3Reliability
If the lid portion seals the connection port tightly, then priming solution leakage is prevented, but vapor ventilation during sterilization is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The lid portion transitions between a first state where it allows vapor penetration for sterilization and a second state where it provides tight sealing. This dynamic state change enables the same component to fulfill both contradictory requirements: vapor ventilation during sterilization and tight sealing during storage or transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid portion has different functional regions: the covering portion with vapor-permeable properties for sterilization, and the closing portion with sealing properties for leakage prevention. This local differentiation of properties allows the lid to provide vapor ventilation in one region while maintaining tight sealing in another region through the locking mechanism.
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
Enables reliable sealing and ventilation during sterilization without additional tools, allowing for efficient sterilization and easy disposal of the connector.
Implementation Method 1
the other-side lid portion in the closing state is tightly in contact with an inner peripheral surface or an outer peripheral surface of the other-side connection port such that the other-side connection port is sealed
Implementation Method 2
the covering part has a rib integrally formed on the covering part and with which ventilation through the other-side connection port is allowed
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
To provide a medical connector that allows ventilation of vapor used in vapor sterilization and has an internal flow route that is tightly closable without using any separate clamping device. A medical connector includes a body 1 having an internal flow route R through which liquid flowing in one flow route is allowed to flow into an other flow route, proximal portions (2a and 2b) included in the body 1 and having respective one-side connection ports (Ca1 and Ca2) at which the internal flow route R is connectable to the one flow route, a distal portion 3 included in the body 1 and having an other-side connection port Cb at which the internal flow route R is connectable to the other flow route, one-side lid portions (5a and 5b) with which the one-side connection ports (Ca1 and Ca2) are closable, and an other-side lid portion 6 whose state is switchable between a closing state in which the other-side lid portion 6 closes the other-side connection port Cb such that the internal flow route R is tightly closed and a ventilating state in which the other-side lid portion 6 covers the other-side connection port Cb such that ventilation is allowed.