Multi-Chamber Syringe Valve Layout for Sequential Flush and Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vascular access devices (VADs) are prone to contamination and infection risk due to frequent connection and disconnection of syringes during flush procedures and drug administration, which complicates drug delivery and increases the risk of bloodstream infections.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber syringe with separate chambers for flush solution and medical fluid, equipped with a valve that allows sequential expulsion of fluids without the need for syringe changes, reducing the number of connections and disconnections, thereby minimizing contamination risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate syringes are used for flush solution and medical fluid administration, then complete drug delivery and catheter patency confirmation are ensured, but the number of connections and disconnections increases leading to higher contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate syringes (flush solution syringe and medical fluid syringe) into a single integrated multi-chamber syringe. The container is divided into a first chamber for flush solution and a second chamber for medical fluid, both controlled by a single plunger assembly. This merging eliminates the need to disconnect and connect multiple syringes to the catheter hub, reducing contamination risk while maintaining the ability to perform both flush and drug delivery functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-chamber syringe is designed to perform multiple functions within a single device: it can deliver flush solution to confirm catheter patency, administer medical fluids (drugs, blood products, parenteral nutrition), and prevent thrombus formation. The single syringe structure with multiple chambers provides universal functionality that replaces several separate syringes, thereby reducing the number of connections to the VAD while maintaining all necessary clinical functions.
2Productivity
If frequent syringe connections and disconnections are performed during flush procedures and drug administration, then complete drug delivery is ensured, but the complexity of the procedure increases and infection risk rises
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the flush solution delivery function and medical fluid delivery function into a single multi-chamber syringe, the procedure complexity is reduced. The practitioner connects one syringe to the catheter hub and can sequentially deliver both flush solution and medical fluid without disconnecting. This eliminates the repetitive connect-disconnect cycle inherent in using separate syringes, simplifying the overall procedure while maintaining complete drug delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-chamber syringe is prepared in advance with both the flush solution and medical fluid loaded into separate chambers before patient administration. This preliminary preparation allows the practitioner to perform both flush and drug delivery from a single pre-filled syringe without needing to exchange syringes during the procedure, thereby reducing procedural steps and potential contamination events.
3Reliability
If separate syringes are used for flush solution and medical fluid, then fluid incompatibility is prevented, but the number of syringes required increases leading to more disinfection and cleaning steps
Solution Approach 1:
The single syringe is segmented into multiple independent chambers (first chamber for flush solution, second chamber for medical fluid) that are physically separated by a partition or barrier. This segmentation maintains fluid compatibility by preventing mixing of incompatible substances while keeping them within a single syringe body. The plunger assembly is designed to control fluid delivery from each chamber independently or sequentially, ensuring that incompatible fluids never come into contact.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-chamber syringe for sequential expulsion of a first fluid followed by a second fluid includes a container having a proximal end and a distal end including a fluid port for expulsion of the fluids the container. The container defines a first chamber for containing the first fluid and a second chamber for containing the second fluid. The syringe also includes: a first plunger for expelling the first fluid from the first chamber; a second plunger for expelling the second fluid from the second chamber; and a valve positioned in the container. The valve is configured to transition between a first position, where fluid flow from the first chamber through the valve is prevented, and a second position, where fluid flow from the first chamber through the at least one valve to the fluid port for expelling the first fluid from the container is permitted.