Polymeric Fluid Connector Overmolding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid transfer systems in the medical and pharmaceutical industries face challenges in creating strong, fluid-tight connections that can be easily tailored for diverse fluid compositions and multiple destinations, with existing connectors often lacking in durability and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The use of polymeric connectors and conduits with pre-formed passageways and cylindrical collars, overmolded with a polymeric member to create seamless transitions and varied configurations such as T, Y, L, and cross-shaped connectors, ensuring fluid communication and strong attachments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional connectors are used to join conduits, then assembly is possible, but the connections lack fluid-tightness and durability
Solution Approach 1:
The polymeric member integrates multiple functions into a single component: it acts as both the joining element and the sealing element. The member is molded to extend over the outer surfaces of both connectors, creating a unified assembly that achieves fluid-tight connections without requiring separate sealing components or complex assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric member functions as a flexible sealing shell that conformally covers the connectors' outer surfaces. This flexible polymeric structure adapts to the connector geometries and creates effective seals, providing both durability and fluid-tightness while maintaining ease of assembly through simple attachment processes.
2Strength
If polymeric members are used to attach connectors, then connection strength increases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polymeric member is pre-formed or pre-molded with the appropriate geometry and attachment features before being applied to the connectors. This preliminary preparation allows the member to be designed with optimized bonding surfaces and structural characteristics, ensuring strong connections while streamlining the final assembly process through pre-engineered components.
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
This solution provides a flexible and durable fluid transfer assembly with strong, fluid-tight connections, capable of handling diverse fluid compositions and multiple destinations, with burst and tensile strengths comparable to the conduit alone, facilitating efficient and predictable fluid flow and easy assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a polymeric member overmolded on the connectors and the conduits
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~5
AI summary
An assembly includes a first polymeric connector having a first passageway and a second passageway fixed relative to the first passageway; a first polymeric conduit having a third passageway in fluid communication with the first passageway; and a polymeric member extending over a gap between the first connector and the first conduit and at least portions of outer surfaces of the first connector and the first conduit. A method of attaching a first polymeric connector having a first passageway and a second passageway fixed relative to the first passageway, and a first polymeric conduit having a third passageway, the method includes attaching the first polymeric connector to the first polymeric conduit with a polymeric member extending over at least portions of outer surfaces of the first connector and the first conduit. The first passageway is in fluid communication with the third passageway.