Movable Shutter for Electrical Interface Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices used to analyze analytes, such as blood glucose meters, pose a risk of electrical shock to users due to exposed electrical interfaces that can be inadvertently connected, leading to potential harm when performing tasks like finger stick tests or data uploads.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of physical barriers, such as shutters or enclosures, that prevent simultaneous access to multiple electrical interfaces, ensuring that only one port is accessible at a time to prevent electrical contact and reduce the risk of shock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple electrical interfaces are exposed and accessible simultaneously, then device functionality and ease of operation are improved, but the risk of electrical shock and harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical interfaces are segmented into separate accessible regions through the use of a barrier element. The barrier divides the common opening into a first region accessible when the barrier is in a first position, and a second region accessible when the barrier is in a second position. This segmentation ensures that only one electrical interface can be accessed at a time, preventing simultaneous contact with multiple interfaces and eliminating the electrical shock hazard while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier element is made movable between at least two positions, dynamically controlling access to different electrical interfaces. When the barrier is moved to a first position, the first electrical interface becomes accessible while the second is blocked. When moved to a second position, access is reversed. This dynamic mechanism allows the device to switch between different operational modes (e.g., test strip insertion vs. cable connection) while preventing hazardous simultaneous access.
2Reliability
If physical barriers are added to prevent simultaneous access to ports, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a physical barrier to prevent simultaneous access to electrical interfaces, provides structural support for the interface assembly, and may serve as part of the housing or casing. By making the barrier multi-functional, the patent minimizes the addition of separate safety components, thereby reducing the increase in device complexity while maintaining high reliability for electrical shock prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for preventing electrical shock from a device with electrical interfaces. A shutter or other barrier associated with the device that physically prevents access or contact to one of the electrical interfaces while another electrical interface is in use.