Multi-Conduit Connector with Tactile Feedback for NPWT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-conduit connectors used in negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) systems are expensive to manufacture and difficult to install, with users often uncertain about the connection status between the connector and the canister.
Innovation Solution
A multi-conduit connector apparatus comprising a canister lid with nipples, a cap sleeve with annular sleeves and clearance shoulders, and a housing with sealing ridges and engagement tabs, providing tactile and audible feedback upon successful engagement, ensuring a secure connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional multi-conduit connectors are used in NPWT systems, then connection functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into separate modular components: a canister lid with integrated nipples, a separate multi-conduit housing with ports, and individual conduits. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simpler, more cost-effective processes while maintaining overall connection functionality through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The canister lid is designed to serve multiple functions: it seals the canister opening and simultaneously provides mounting structures (nipples) for connecting multiple conduits. The housing similarly integrates multiple ports and sealing mechanisms into a single component, reducing the total number of parts needed and simplifying the overall assembly.
2Ease of operation
If traditional multi-conduit connectors are used in NPWT systems, then connection functionality is achieved, but installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates tactile feedback mechanisms through engagement tabs that interact with corresponding features on the canister lid. When conduits are properly connected, the tabs engage with audible and tactile confirmation, providing immediate feedback to the user that the connection is secure and correct, eliminating uncertainty about installation status.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment features and engagement mechanisms are designed to guide the conduits into proper positioning automatically during installation. The nipples on the canister lid align with corresponding ports on the housing, and the engagement tabs self-lock into place, allowing the connector to guide its own assembly without requiring complex alignment procedures or specialized tools.
3Loss of information
If traditional multi-conduit connectors are used in NPWT systems, then connection functionality is achieved, but user uncertainty about connection status increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector provides dual sensory feedback (tactile and audible) when conduits are properly connected. The engagement tabs make distinct audible clicks and tactile sensations upon engagement, giving users clear, unambiguous information about connection status without requiring additional verification steps or instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector incorporates visual indicators through color-coded features or transparent sections that change appearance based on connection status. When conduits are properly connected, the engagement tabs or sealing surfaces display a distinct visual signal (such as a colored ring becoming visible or a transparent cover changing opacity), allowing users to quickly verify correct installation.
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-conduit connector apparatuses for use in negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) apparatuses to wound dressing, and methods for installing multi-conduit connector apparatuses in NPWT apparatuses.