Medical Port Device Bridge Element Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing port devices for fluid storage bags in the medical field often fail to secure the bag safely and easily, risking damage or leakage during attachment, and may pose risks due to resistant geometries that can cause blood coagulation or accidental needle sticks.
Innovation Solution
A port device with transversely oriented bridge elements, undercut edges, and funnel-tapered bottom and sidewalls to support the bag without obstructing fluid flow, along with safety features like circular flanges and connecting bars to prevent needle accidents, ensures secure attachment and safe fluid handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the port device housing is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the risk of breakage during attachment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a rigid outer shell and flexible internal components (bridge elements and welding portions). The rigid housing maintains structural integrity and strength, while the flexible bridge elements and welding portions can deform during attachment to absorb stress and prevent breakage, resolving the contradiction between strength and attachment safety.
2Productivity
If the connective opening is made wide to allow large fluid flow, then fluid flow is improved, but the welding area becomes complex increasing manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The connective opening has a curved, elongate shape with rounded edges instead of sharp angles. This curved geometry allows for large fluid flow capacity while providing smooth welding surfaces that are easier to manufacture. The circular segment shaped edges of the welding portions create continuous curved surfaces that facilitate welding without complex sharp transitions.
3Volume of moving object
If the sidewalls are made thin to reduce device size, then device compactness is improved, but the risk of damage during attachment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewalls have varying thicknesses and properties at different locations. The bridge elements provide localized reinforcement at critical stress points where the storage bag attaches, while other portions of the sidewalls remain thin to maintain compactness. This local reinforcement allows thin overall dimensions while preventing damage at vulnerable areas.
4Ease of manufacture
If the port device is designed with simple geometry to ease manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but resistant geometries may cause blood coagulation
Solution Approach 1:
The port device features continuously curved surfaces throughout, including the funnel-shaped access ports, rounded edges of the connective opening, and curved transition zones. These curved geometries eliminate sharp angles and protrusions that could cause turbulence or stagnation in fluid flow, thereby preventing blood coagulation while remaining manufacturable using standard molding techniques.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A port device (10) for a fluid storage bag (46) comprises a housing (12) having a bottom wall (14) and opposing sidewalls (16, 18), and a connective opening (20) in said housing (12) opposite to said bottom wall (14). The connective opening (20) is adapted to be connected with said fluid storage bag (46) and has an elongate surface area shaped by a wide center portion (22) and peaked longitudinally opposing ends (24). A port device (10) further comprises at least one access port (26) in said bottom wall (14) adapted to communicate with the interior of said fluid storage bag (46) through said connective opening (20). In order to be fixable to the fluid storage bag (46) in a safe and easy manner, said port device (10) further comprises at least one bridge element (32) supporting said sidewalls (16, 18) and oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction (34).