Medical Fluid Bubble Traps with Misaligned Flow Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical fluid transfer systems often contain air bubbles that can lead to inefficiencies and potential clinical risks during fluid administration.
Innovation Solution
A bubble trap system with a misaligned inlet and outlet configuration, incorporating projections into a chamber to break up fluid paths and trap air bubbles, is integrated into medical fluid lines to prevent gas flow from the source to the destination container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional aligned inlet-outlet configuration is used in fluid transfer systems, then the fluid transfer path is simple and direct, but air bubbles can easily pass through from source to destination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by misaligning the inlet and outlet openings relative to each other, breaking the direct fluid path that would allow bubbles to pass through. The inlet and outlet are positioned at different locations on the chamber, creating an indirect flow path that forces fluid to travel around the chamber perimeter, enabling bubble accumulation in the chamber while maintaining fluid transfer capability.
2Reliability
If projections extend into the chamber from inlet and outlet, then the fluid path is broken up to trap bubbles, but the chamber volume available for fluid storage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the chamber into functional zones using projections that extend from the inlet and outlet. These projections create distinct regions: a fluid flow path zone and a bubble accumulation zone. The projections segment the chamber interior to guide fluid flow while creating pockets where bubbles can accumulate without reducing the overall chamber capacity for fluid storage.
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
Effectively traps air bubbles, ensuring smooth and reliable fluid transfer by preventing gas from entering the destination container, thus enhancing the safety and efficiency of medical fluid administration.
Implementation Method 1
a chamber configured to trap gas that flows into the bubble trap
Implementation Method 2
a resilient housing at least partially defining a chamber with a rest volume. The housing can be configured to at least partially collapse when subjected to a vacuum so as to reduce the volume of the chamber and configured to return to the rest volume when the vacuum is removed
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2Ai
AI summary
Bubble traps for use in medical fluid lines and medical fluid bubble trap systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the bubble trap is configured to trap gas (e.g., air) that flows into the bubble trap from a fluid line. In some embodiments, the bubble trap includes an inlet and an outlet and a chamber between the inlet and the outlet. For example, in some embodiments, the bubble trap is configured to inhibit gas from flowing into the outlet once gas flows into the chamber from the inlet. In some embodiments, the bubble trap is in fluid communication with a source container, a destination container, and/or a patient.