Medical Probe Connector Alignment to Prevent Signal Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for medical devices, such as oximetry sensors, often fail to ensure proper alignment and secure connection, leading to signal transmission loss and potential user errors during attachment and detachment, which can result in incorrect data readings or equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a connector and receptacle system with physical security features like a blocking cylinder and software mechanisms that prevent improper insertion and ensure correct orientation, along with an adapter to convert conventional receptacles, facilitating intuitive and secure connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a connector is designed without security alignment features, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but signal transmission loss increases and connection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs an asymmetric blocking cylinder with a unique cross-sectional shape that does not match any aperture except the intended one. This asymmetric design ensures proper alignment while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking cylinder acts as an intermediary element between the connector and receptacle, providing physical guidance and alignment. This intermediate component ensures reliable connection without requiring complex integrated alignment mechanisms, thus improving connection reliability while controlling device complexity
2Reliability
If a blocking cylinder is added to ensure proper alignment, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking cylinder is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently manufactured and then assembled into the connector. This segmentation allows for simpler manufacturing of individual parts while achieving the overall goal of improved alignment accuracy, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking cylinder provides localized alignment functionality at a specific point in the connector assembly, rather than requiring complex alignment features throughout the entire connector structure. This localized approach improves alignment accuracy while maintaining ease of manufacture for the overall connector
3Reliability
If security mechanisms are implemented to prevent improper insertion, then connection reliability is improved, but ease of operation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking cylinder is pre-configured within the connector housing, with its orientation and position predetermined during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that during operation, the user simply needs to insert the connector in the correct orientation without needing to manually align complex features, thus improving connection accuracy while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking cylinder and corresponding aperture are designed with visual indicators (such as color coding or contrasting colors) that provide immediate visual feedback to the user about proper alignment. This visual guidance improves connection accuracy while actually enhancing ease of operation by making the correct insertion orientation obvious and intuitive
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor probe has a connector and the connector's corresponding receptacle on a console have security mechanisms that ensure that the connector and the receptacle are properly connected and mated. The connector and receptacle can have physical security features that block insertion of the connector into the receptacle if they are not aligned in a proper orientation. The console can also include a software security feature that allows optical measurements from the sensor probe only if the connector of the sensor probe and receptacle on the console are connected properly. An adapter can also be used to convert a conventional receptacle mounted on a console into a receptacle with security features.