Needleless Connector Flexible Valve Flush Seal Design

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing needleless connectors with flexible valves often experience fluid leakage and contamination due to non-flush external seals, which can lead to fluid drying or bacterial trapping within recesses at the port openings.

Innovation Solution

A flexible valve design featuring a head with a non-perpendicular top section and a primary seal portion, where the top surface is flush with the port edge, and a collapsible lower portion with varying shapes and materials to ensure a secure seal and prevent fluid leakage and contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a flexible valve is used in a needleless connector, then the self-sealing function is improved, but fluid leakage and contamination occur due to non-flush external seal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-sealing functionVSAvoidfluid leakage and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The valve head is designed with a specific geometric configuration where the top surface is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, creating a localized flush seal interface at the port opening. This local structural quality ensures that the external seal surface aligns precisely with the port opening, preventing fluid leakage and contamination while maintaining the overall flexibility of the valve for self-sealing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the top surface of the valve head is made flush with the port opening, then external seal is improved, but flexibility and collapse function may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflush seal alignmentVSAvoidvalve flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The valve structure is divided into distinct functional segments: a rigid valve head portion with the perpendicular top surface that provides the flush seal interface, and a flexible valve body portion that can collapse and deform. This segmentation allows the seal-critical head to maintain precise geometric alignment while the body retains full flexibility for collapse and self-sealing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve head is designed with a specific geometric configuration where the top surface is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, creating a localized flush seal interface at the port opening. This local structural quality ensures that the external seal surface aligns precisely with the port opening, preventing fluid leakage and contamination while maintaining the overall flexibility of the valve for self-sealing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If a recess is formed at the port opening due to non-flush seal, then valve flexibility is maintained, but bacteria trapping and fluid hardening occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve flexibilityVSAvoidbacteria trapping and fluid hardening

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The valve head is designed with a specific geometric configuration where the top surface is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, creating a localized flush seal interface at the port opening. This local structural quality ensures that the external seal surface aligns precisely with the port opening, preventing fluid leakage and contamination while maintaining the overall flexibility of the valve for self-sealing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of a non-flush seal (which creates recesses that trap bacteria) into a benefit by ensuring the top surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. This geometric configuration ensures the seal surface is flush with the port opening, eliminating recesses and preventing bacteria trapping, while the flexible valve body still provides the necessary collapse function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution provides a flush external seal, preventing fluid leakage and contamination, while maintaining the necessary balance of rigidity and flexibility for effective fluid flow management in needleless connectors.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible valve for a connector that includes a head having a top section and a column section; the top section includes a top surface that is non-perpendicular with respect to an axial center of the flexible valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2777759B1Needleless connector with flexible valve

Publication Date: 2021.01.27 CAREFUSION 303 INC

Figure 1A
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Figure 1C

AI summary

A flexible valve for a connectors is described. In one example, a flexible valve for a connector includes a head having a top section and a column section defining an axial center of the head, wherein the top section includes a top planar surface that is non-perpendicular with respect to the axial center of the column section; a primary seal portion coupled to the head; and a lower portion coupled to the primary seal portion.