Self-Cleaning Needleless Connector with Rotating Abrasive Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional needleless connectors require active disinfection by clinicians, which is prone to human error, increasing the risk of microbial intrusion and associated infections with mortality rates ranging from 12%-25%.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning needleless connector with a rotatable cover and abrasive surface, containing a cleaning agent, automatically disinfects the connection surface by moving between extended and retracted positions, ensuring consistent contact with the inlet threads to minimize microbial intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual disinfection by clinician is used, then the disinfection process can be performed, but human error increases the risk of microbial intrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The needleless connector automatically disinfects itself through the rotatable cover mechanism that brings the abrasive surface into contact with the inlet surface, eliminating the need for manual disinfection by clinicians and removing human error from the process
2Reliability
If manual disinfection is performed, then disinfection can be attempted, but consistent contact time cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically controls the disinfection process by rotating the cover to ensure consistent contact between the abrasive surface and inlet, maintaining proper contact time without relying on clinician timing
Solution Approach 2:
The abrasive surface is pre-positioned within the cover and the cleaning agent is pre-applied, so that when the cover rotates, the disinfection action immediately occurs with proper contact time built into the mechanism
3Reliability
If a rotatable cover with abrasive surface is added, then automatic disinfection is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable cover serves multiple functions: it protects the inlet when not in use, provides the abrasive surface for automatic disinfection, and controls access to the connection point, consolidating multiple functions into a single component
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover and cleaning mechanism are merged into a single integrated component, where the cover itself contains the abrasive surface and performs both protection and disinfection functions
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
The self-cleaning mechanism reduces the risk of human error in disinfection, effectively minimizing microbial intrusion and associated infections by ensuring consistent and prolonged contact with the cleaning agent, thereby enhancing patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
an abrasive surface disposed within the cover, the abrasive surface being in fluid communication with the cleaning agent and being adapted to contact an exterior surface of the inlet including a plurality of threads as the cover moves from the extended position to the retracted position
Implementation Method 2
an abrasive surface disposed within the cover... being adapted to contact an exterior surface of the inlet
Implementation Method 3
a reservoir containing a cleaning agent... the abrasive surface being in fluid communication with the cleaning agent
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A self-cleaning needleless connector may include a connector body defining a fluid passageway including an inlet and an outlet, a cover disposed over at least the inlet of the connector body, an access point disposed at an inlet end of the cover, where in a first position the inlet is within the cover and in an second position the inlet is extended beyond the cover and configured to receive a male luer, a reservoir containing a cleaning agent, and an abrasive surface located in the cover that is in fluid communication with the cleaning agent, where the abrasive surface and the cleaning agent are configured to contact an exterior surface of the inlet to create friction.