Needleless Medical Connector Sealing via Compression Tubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current needleless medical connectors have poor sealing properties, leading to leakage of medication when the dosing unit is removed, which compromises the safety and efficiency of medication delivery.
Innovation Solution
A leak-proof needleless medical connector design featuring a housing with a valve tube, an actuator, a resilient member, and an adapter, which includes a valve tube with a bottom annular blocking projection and compressible tubes to create a sealed flow channel and ensure proper sealing upon removal of the dosing unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional needleless medical connector is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sealing property is poor causing medication leakage when the dosing unit is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into multiple functional components: a housing, a resilient member with compression tubes, a valve mechanism with valve stems, and a dosing unit interface. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the resilient member provides sealing, the valve mechanism controls flow, and the interface secures the dosing unit - while collectively solving the leakage problem without requiring an overly complex integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member is pre-configured with compression tubes that are initially in a compressed state, and the valve stems are pre-positioned to block the flow channel. When the dosing unit is removed, these pre-positioned elements automatically expand and move to seal the connector, preventing leakage without requiring additional active components or complex control mechanisms
2Ease of operation
If the dosing unit is removed from the connector, then the medication delivery is complete, but medication leakage occurs due to poor sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member and valve mechanism are designed to automatically perform the sealing function when the dosing unit is removed. The compression tubes expand due to their elasticity, and the valve stems move to block the flow channel, creating a self-activating sealing system that prevents medication leakage without requiring manual intervention or additional power sources
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member acts as an intermediary between the dosing unit removal action and the sealing function. When the dosing unit is removed, the resilient member transitions from a compressed to an expanded state, mediating the mechanical action to activate the valve stems and compression tubes that ultimately seal the connector and prevent leakage
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 design effectively prevents medication leakage by utilizing resilient compression tubes and valve stems to seal the connector, ensuring no residue is left outside and maintaining a vacuum to draw in any remaining medication, thus ensuring reliable and safe delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient member is disposed within the housing and includes in sequence a lower compression tube, a column and an upper compression tube. The lower compression tube and the upper compression tube are resiliently compressible and expansible.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A leak proof needleless medical connector has a housing (10), an actuator (20), a resilient member (30) and an adapter (40). The housing (10) includes a valve tube (12). The valve tube (12) has a bottom annular blocking projection (121). The actuator (20) and the resilient member (30) are mounted in the housing (10) and the adapter (40) is mounted on a top of the housing (10). A bottom valve stem (34) is mounted in the valve tube (12) of the housing (10). A bottom end of the bottom valve stem (34) abuts the bottom annular blocking projection (121) of the valve tube (12) to close an open bottom of the valve tube (12). In use, a dosing unit (60) is screwed into the needleless medical connector. Thus, a flow channel is formed within the needleless medical connector and the dosing unit (60).