Pump Housing Segmentation for Sterile Mixing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for mixing a substance with a liquid prior to discharge often experience malfunctions due to air entering the system, which can lead to contamination and compromise sterility, especially in medical or pharmaceutical applications.

Innovation Solution

A device design featuring a tubular insert with a pump housing part that includes an air chamber and annular seal, allowing air to escape externally during pump advancement, preventing air from entering the receptacle and ensuring sterility, along with optional features like slits for liquid entry and a blister pack for substance containment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the pump means is advanced in the tubular insert to open the bottom of the second receptacle, then the substance can be mixed with the liquid, but air is pressed into the suction area of the pump causing malfunctions and potential contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing capabilityVSAvoidpump malfunction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pump housing part is segmented into a suction area and a pressure area, with a separating wall between them. This segmentation prevents air from the pressure area from entering the suction area, eliminating pump malfunctions while maintaining mixing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separating wall acts as an intermediary barrier between the suction area and pressure area, allowing the pump to advance and mix substances without direct air contact between the two areas, thus preventing contamination and malfunctions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the pump means is advanced to open the bottom of the second receptacle, then mixing can occur, but air enters the receptacle compromising sterility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing capabilityVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pump housing part is segmented into a suction area and a pressure area, with a separating wall between them. This segmentation prevents air from the pressure area from entering the suction area, eliminating pump malfunctions while maintaining mixing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separating wall acts as an intermediary barrier between the suction area and pressure area, allowing the pump to advance and mix substances without direct air contact between the two areas, thus preventing contamination and maintaining sterility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the bottom of the second receptacle is opened by advancing the pump, then the substance can pass into the liquid, but air enters the suction area causing initial pumping malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebottom opening mechanismVSAvoidinitial pumping function

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pump housing part is segmented into a suction area and a pressure area, with a separating wall between them. This segmentation prevents air from the pressure area from entering the suction area, eliminating pump malfunctions while maintaining mixing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separating wall is pre-configured in the pump housing part to prevent air entry into the suction area before pumping begins, ensuring reliable initial pumping operation when the bottom is opened.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 configuration prevents malfunctions and maintains sterility by ensuring air does not enter the system during initial pumping, allowing for efficient and sterile mixing of substances with liquids.

Implementation Method 1

The front part of the pump means is sealed on its outer circumference by an annular seal relative to the tubular insert

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

a pressure element that can be advanced in order to apply a force to the bottom of the second receptacle such that the bottom is opened

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

the front part of a pump means displaceably engaging into the tubular insert

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentUS8267280B2Device for separately storing a substance, preferably a medical or pharmaceutical substance, and a liquid and mixing the same prior to the delivery thereof

Publication Date: 2012.09.18 GAPLAST GMBH

AI summary

The device for separately storing a substance, such as a medical or pharmaceutical active substance, and a liquid, and for mixing the same prior to use, comprising a first receptacle containing the liquid, a second receptacle that contains the substance and has a bottom to be opened so that the substance passes into the liquid, and comprising a means that can be advanced in order to apply a force to the bottom of the second receptacle such that the bottom is opened, is characterized in that the second receptacle is a blister pack which is mounted inside or on the first receptacle. The substance is thereby sealed within a housing that has a preferably flat bottom and a substantially cup-shaped or blister-shaped upper chamber wall. The flat bottom is torn open in order to release the substance, with the chamber wall being preferably turned upside down through the bottom.