Modular Medical Container Adaptor with Protective Envelope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical container adaptors are not versatile enough to handle medical containers with varying outer diameters, leading to inefficiencies and contamination issues during vaccine administration, especially in remote locations where maintaining hygienic conditions is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A modular assembly comprising a connecting member and a gripping member with a pierceable elastomeric piece, housed in a protective envelope, allowing secure mounting on medical containers with different collar diameters, ensuring multiple successive needle piercings in hygienic conditions without direct user contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single adaptor design is used for medical containers with varying collar diameters, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor is divided into two separate components: a connecting member that interfaces with the medical container collar and a gripping member that provides the gripping function. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the connecting member designed to accommodate varying collar diameters through its cylindrical shape and opening, while the gripping member provides precise gripping action.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting member is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate medical containers with different collar diameters. Its cylindrical body with a central opening allows it to fit various collar sizes, making the adaptor system universally applicable across different container types while maintaining functional precision through the separate gripping member.
2Ease of operation
If direct user contact with the adaptor is allowed during mounting, then ease of operation is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective envelope serves as an intermediary barrier between the user and the adaptor components during mounting. It allows users to manipulate the adaptor through the envelope material without direct contact, maintaining sterility while enabling easy operation. The envelope can be easily torn or pulled to allow mounting while preventing contamination throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor components are pre-assembled within the protective envelope in a sterile state before use. This preliminary assembly in a protected environment ensures that no contamination occurs during handling, while the envelope design allows for easy subsequent mounting operations by the user.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple adaptor designs are used for different collar diameters, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the adaptor into a connecting member and a gripping member, the system eliminates the need for multiple adaptor variants. The connecting member's cylindrical design with adjustable opening accommodates different collar diameters, while the gripping member remains standardized, simplifying the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting member is designed as a universal component that can interface with various collar diameters, eliminating the need for multiple specialized adaptors. This universal design reduces device complexity while maintaining the precision needed for different container types through its flexible cylindrical structure.
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 the use of a single adaptor with medical containers of varying diameters, reducing contamination risks and improving vaccine administration efficiency in remote settings by maintaining sterility and simplifying supply chains.
Implementation Method 1
a pierceable elastomeric piece, fixed with respect to the gripping member, arranged so as to face the through hole
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly including a connecting member to be mounted on a first medical container, an adaptor including a gripping member to be mounted on a second medical container, a pierceable elastomeric piece, fixed with respect to the gripping member, a protecting envelope comprising a rigid shell substantially surrounding the connecting member and the adaptor in a storage position of the assembly, in which the connecting member is separate from the adaptor. The rigid shell is closed by a removable film. The assembly further comprises a first engagement portion for preventing the connecting member from escaping from the rigid shell when the film is removed. Also, a kit including such an assembly and first and second medical containers.