Needle-Free Connector Piston Structure for Retrograde Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current needle-free connectors (NFCs) in the medical industry face challenges in controlling the amount of positive displacement while minimizing retrograde fluid migration, which is sensitive to design modifications and results in unpredictable performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a hollow piston with a fluted section and a retrograde-reducing stiffener, featuring areas of minimum and maximum wall thickness to control collapsibility and resistance to pressure changes, ensuring consistent and desired displacement with reduced retrograde.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the valve element is made highly collapsible to increase positive displacement, then the ability to flush out residual fluid improves, but retrograde fluid migration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element incorporates zones of varying wall thickness: thinner walls in regions requiring collapsibility to enable positive displacement, and thicker walls in regions requiring structural integrity to prevent retrograde. This localized variation in material distribution allows simultaneous optimization of both displacement capability and retrograde resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element combines materials or structural configurations with different mechanical properties within a single component, creating a composite structure that exhibits both high collapsibility in specific zones and high rigidity in other zones, thereby achieving both positive displacement and retrograde prevention.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the valve element wall thickness is increased to reduce retrograde, then retrograde fluid migration decreases, but positive displacement capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than uniformly increasing wall thickness, the invention applies thicker walls only in specific locations where retrograde prevention is critical, while maintaining thinner walls in regions where collapsibility is needed for positive displacement. This localized approach optimizes the trade-off between the two opposing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element is divided into multiple segments or zones with different wall thickness characteristics, allowing each segment to be optimized for its specific function: some segments prioritize collapsibility for displacement while others prioritize rigidity for retrograde prevention.
3Quantity of substance
If design modifications are made to control displacement, then positive displacement can be optimized, but performance becomes unpredictable due to sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention systematically adjusts critical design parameters such as wall thickness, material composition, and geometric configuration to achieve a balanced state where positive displacement is optimized while maintaining predictable and consistent performance across different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates features that provide feedback on pressure changes and fluid flow conditions, allowing the valve element to self-regulate its response and maintain consistent performance despite variations in operating conditions or manufacturing tolerances.
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
This configuration allows for controlled positive displacement with minimal retrograde fluid migration, enhancing the reliability and consistency of NFCs in medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
The hollow piston is axially collapsible in the chamber to allow fluid to flow between the inner wall of the hollow body and the outer surface of the hollow piston
Implementation Method 2
The hollow piston is axially collapsible in the chamber
Implementation Method 3
The valve element is formed of a resilient flexible material that allows the valve element to change shape in response to external force applied to the valve element from a fluid source
Implementation Method 4
The valve element is formed of a resilient flexible material
Implementation Method 5
a retrograde-reducing stiffener, featuring areas of minimum and maximum wall thickness to control collapsibility and resistance to pressure changes
Data Source
AI summary
A needle-free connector for accessing a patient's intravenous line includes a hollow body having a first end with a first opening, a second end with a second opening, and an inner wall defining a chamber. A hollow piston disposed in the chamber is axially collapsible to allow fluid to flow between the inner wall of the hollow body and the outer surface of the hollow piston. An inner surface of the hollow piston includes a fluted section having a radial array of axial slots. The fluted section has a first radial thickness configured to buckle in response to axial force applied to the hollow piston. The hollow piston further includes a retrograde-reducing stiffener. The retrograde-reducing stiffener has a second radial thickness that is greater than the first radial thickness.