Needleless Connector with Segmented Smiley Cut Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional needleless connectors trap a significant amount of fluid, which can lead to medication degradation and pose a hazard when disconnected, as the flexible valve's behavior does not scale effectively with size reduction.
Innovation Solution
A self-sealing needleless female Luer connector with a collapsible valve featuring a cylindrical wall and a head with first and second smiley cuts on opposite sides, designed to reduce the internal fluid volume while maintaining a self-sealing port that meets ISO standards, allowing for easy disinfection and efficient fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the connector size is reduced, then the amount of trapped fluid is minimized, but the flexible valve may not fold at the desired force and behavior does not scale
Solution Approach 1:
The valve head is segmented with multiple smiley cuts (first and second smiley cuts) instead of a single cut, allowing the valve to fold in a controlled manner even in reduced-size connectors. This segmentation ensures predictable folding behavior while maintaining the ability to minimize trapped fluid volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The smiley cuts are positioned at specific locations on the valve head to create localized folding points. This local structural modification ensures that the valve folds reliably at the desired force while adapting to the reduced connector size, resolving the scaling issue.
2Quantity of substance
If the connector size is reduced, then fluid trapping is minimized, but manufacturing precision and valve behavior scaling become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the valve head into segments with multiple smiley cuts creates defined folding zones that are less sensitive to manufacturing variations. This segmentation provides tolerance for size reduction while maintaining consistent folding behavior across different manufacturing batches.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design incorporates dynamic folding characteristics through the smiley cuts, allowing the valve to adapt its folding behavior based on applied force. This dynamic response ensures reliable operation even with reduced connector dimensions and manufacturing tolerances.
3Device complexity
If a single smiley cut is used, then the valve structure is simple, but the valve does not fold at the desired amount of force in reduced-size connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The valve head is divided with multiple smiley cuts creating separate folding segments. This segmentation distributes the folding action across multiple points, enabling the valve to fold at the desired force level while maintaining structural simplicity suitable for reduced-size connectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The smiley cuts introduce a new dimensional aspect to the valve head structure, creating curved folding paths that facilitate controlled folding at reduced forces. This dimensional modification allows the valve to function properly in miniaturized connectors without significantly increasing overall complexity.
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 reduced size of the connector minimizes fluid trapping, ensuring more medication reaches the patient and reducing the risk of degraded medication, as the collapsible valve design effectively seals and opens with predictable force, maintaining a continuous external surface for disinfection.
Implementation Method 1
a collapsible valve made of a flexible material. When a force is applied to the top of the valve by the tip of a male Luer connector, the valve folds at a smiley cut located in the upper portion
Implementation Method 2
When a force is applied to the top of the valve by the tip of a male Luer connector, the valve folds at a smiley cut located in the upper portion, referred to as the head of the valve, thereby opening a flow path through the connector
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A needleless connector has a body having an internal cavity with a sealing ridge, a port, an output flow channel, and a fluid flow path between the port and output flow channel. The connector also has a collapsible valve disposed within the cavity. The valve includes a cylindrical wall having a center axis and a shoulder and defining an internal air space, wherein the shoulder is configured to sealingly contact the ridge of the body so as to block the fluid flow path, and a head fixedly attached to the wall, the head having first and second smiley cuts disposed on opposite sides of the head.