Oxygen Quick Connect Adapter with Biased Plunger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical facilities face significant oxygen waste due to the rapid connection and disconnection of oxygen tubing using Christmas tree connectors, leading to prolonged oxygen flow without proper shut-off and requiring manual adjustment of oxygen flow rates upon patient transfer.
Innovation Solution
A quick-connect assembly with a female coupling and male insert, featuring a biased plunger and catch device, which automatically shuts off oxygen flow when disconnected and reinstates the previous flow rate upon reconnection, eliminating the need for manual adjustments and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If Christmas tree connectors are used for rapid connection and disconnection of oxygen tubing, then connection speed is improved, but oxygen waste increases due to prolonged flow after disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The quick-connect assembly performs the shut-off action automatically at the moment of disconnection. The biased plunger is pre-positioned to block the bore, and upon disconnection, it immediately returns to the blocked position without requiring manual intervention, thus preventing oxygen waste before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically shuts off oxygen flow upon disconnection and automatically restores flow upon reconnection without requiring manual operation. The biased plunger self-actuates based on the presence or absence of the connected tubing, making the system self-regulating and eliminating human error in flow control
2Reliability
If manual adjustment of oxygen flow rates is required upon patient transfer, then flow rate control is maintained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The quick-connect assembly automatically maintains the blocked or open state based on connection status, eliminating the need for manual flow rate adjustments during patient transfers. The system self-regulates flow without requiring staff intervention, saving time and reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the manual adjustment function from the oxygen delivery system by automating flow control through the biased plunger mechanism. This separates the flow control function from manual operation, allowing the system to automatically adapt to connection and disconnection events
3Ease of operation
If oxygen sources are left running after tubing disconnection, then ease of operation is improved, but oxygen waste and safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically shuts off flow upon disconnection without requiring manual intervention, preventing oxygen waste and safety hazards while maintaining ease of operation. The biased plunger self-actuates to block the bore when tubing is removed, eliminating the need for staff to manually turn off oxygen sources
Solution Approach 2:
The biased plunger is pre-positioned to block the bore, and automatically activates to prevent oxygen flow at the moment of disconnection. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effect of wasted oxygen and potential safety hazards before they can occur
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 effectively reduces oxygen waste by ensuring oxygen flow is halted when the tubing is disconnected and automatically resumes at the correct rate upon reconnection, minimizing errors and operational inefficiencies in hospitals.
Implementation Method 1
a biased plunger configured to automatically shut off oxygen flow when disconnected and reinstates the previous flow rate upon reconnection
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments of an oxygen quick connect device and method of using the same, the quick connect device includes a female coupling that has a first end and second end and a bore extending longitudinally through the first and second ends and further includes a biased plunger disposed within the bore of the female coupling and configured to reciprocate within, a seal member disposed on the plunger and configured to seal at a location on the bore of the female coupling, a catch device disposed at a second end of the female coupling body, and mechanism for connecting the female coupling to an oxygen supply source. The device also includes a male insert that has a first end and a second end and a first bore extending longitudinally through the first and second ends and groove for engaging with the catch device.