Needleless Fluid Control Device with Rotating Director
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid control devices in intravenous systems lack a single device that combines the functionality of a stopcock and a needleless access device, which is essential for safe and efficient fluid management without the need for traditional metal needles.
Innovation Solution
A fluid control device with a housing having multiple ports, incorporating a first valve element and a fluid director with angled fluid passageways, allowing fluid flow between ports and preventing leakage, and an actuation mechanism for orienting the fluid director to direct fluid flow between ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a stopcock is used to guide fluid flow between ports, then fluid direction control is achieved, but the device requires traditional metal needles for injection which causes needle stick injuries and pathogen transmission risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful metal needle component from the fluid injection system, replacing it with a needleless access device that maintains fluid flow control while removing the source of needle stick injuries and pathogen transmission risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a needleless access device as an intermediary component between the fluid source and the patient, which serves as a safe alternative to metal needles while enabling the same fluid injection and withdrawal functions
2Reliability
If separate devices are used for stopcock functionality and needleless access, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the system complexity increases and requires multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the stopcock fluid direction control functionality with the needleless access device into a single integrated unit, combining multiple functions that were previously performed by separate devices, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining functional optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional device that performs both stopcock operations (fluid direction control between multiple ports) and needleless access (safe fluid injection/withdrawal), allowing one device to fulfill the roles of what were previously separate components
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid control device for directing fluid flow comprising a needleless access device for transferring fluids and methods of directing fluid flow. The fluid control device may have a first port, a second port, a third port and a connecting portion joining the first, second and third ports. A first valve element may be positioned within the first port and a fluid director may be positioned within the connecting portion. The first valve element may move between an opening position, where fluid may flow past the first valve element, and a closed position, where fluid may be prevented from flowing past the first valve element. The fluid director may have at least one passageway for connecting at least two of the first, second and third ports such that fluid may flow therebetween. An actuation mechanism may be used to orient the fluid director and, consequently, the at least one passageway within the connecting portion.