Membrane Connection Member for Tube-Agnostic Pump Flow Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection devices require tubes made of specific materials and dimensions for accurate pressure measurement, and the attachment of tubes is cumbersome and troublesome.
Innovation Solution
A connection member with deformable membranes in the suction and discharge passages that face sensors for flow state detection, allowing tubes of various materials and dimensions, and simplifies attachment by integrating sealing portions and a fitting mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a connection member with a sealing member is inserted into the pump chamber to verify liquid presence, then liquid verification capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The connection member is designed to serve multiple functions: it connects the syringe to the pump chamber, seals the chamber opening, and enables liquid verification through its transparent portion. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent avoids adding separate verification devices while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent portion of the connection member acts as an intermediary element that allows optical detection of liquid presence without requiring direct contact between the detection system and the liquid. This mediator approach enables verification while maintaining the integrity and simplicity of the sealed chamber system.
2Reliability
If the pump chamber is sealed to prevent contamination, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because the chamber cannot be opened for refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The pump chamber system is segmented into a sealed pump chamber and an external syringe reservoir. The syringe can be detached and replaced without opening the pump chamber itself, maintaining the seal integrity while enabling refilling operations. This segmentation allows the chamber to remain closed for contamination prevention while the external syringe handles refilling.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid storage function is extracted from the pump chamber and placed in an external syringe. This allows the pump chamber to remain permanently sealed for contamination prevention, while the external syringe can be easily removed, refilled, and reattached to restore liquid supply.
3Reliability
If a sealing member is added to the connection member to ensure sealing performance, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed to automatically seal the pump chamber opening through the insertion motion itself. The connection member's geometry and the sealing member's placement are arranged so that insertion naturally creates the seal without requiring precise alignment or additional adjustment mechanisms, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while ensuring reliable sealing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a connection member which is not limited by the material, the tube thickness, the tube diameter or the like of a suction tube and a discharge tube to be connected to a pump, and can eliminate troubles in the tube attachment. A connection member 5 includes: a pump attachment part 12; a tube connecting part 10; and a flow passage defining part 13. At least a portion of each of the suction passage section 16 and the discharge passage section 17 of the flow passage defining part 13 includes membranes 16a, 17a deformable due to pressures of the liquid flowing in the suction passage section 16 and the discharge passage section 17. The flow passage defining part 13 has a shape allowing the flow passage defining part 13 to be attached in an arrangement that the membranes 16a, 17a face sensors 37, 38 for detecting a flow state of the liquid flowing in the suction passage section 16 and the discharge passage section 17 by deformation of the membranes 16a, 17a.