Quick Connector Rotational Locking for Fast Secure Medical Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices, such as endoscopes, require connectors that allow for quick and efficient assembly and disassembly to facilitate hygiene and reduce the time and effort needed for secure engagement and disengagement, as existing threaded or compressive engagement methods are cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A quick connector with a compressive and rotational locking and unlocking mechanism, featuring a cylindrical socket, plug, rotatable collar, and undulant resilient piece, allowing for easy assembly and secure engagement through rotational movement and compressive locking, enabling faster and more convenient connection and disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded engagement or compressive engagement is used to assemble medical device components, then secure connection is achieved, but significant time and effort are required for engagement and disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs a dynamic locking mechanism where the resilient piece transitions between compressed and relaxed states during engagement and disengagement. The resilient piece is compressed during assembly to lock the components securely, and can be released quickly for disassembly, providing both secure connection and rapid operation without requiring threaded twisting or sustained compressive force
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into distinct functional segments: the resilient piece for locking, the trackway for guiding movement, the engaging protrusion for connection, and the limiting walls for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, enabling secure engagement through coordinated action of multiple specialized elements rather than a single complex mechanism
2Reliability
If threaded engagement is used to assemble medical device components, then secure connection is achieved, but significant effort is required for engagement and disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient piece automatically engages with the engaging protrusion and limiting walls to secure the connection without requiring additional fastening actions. The elastic deformation of the resilient piece creates self-locking action that maintains secure connection passively, while disengagement is achieved by simply releasing the compression force, eliminating the need for twisting or sustained manual effort
Solution Approach 2:
The connector uses dynamic elastic deformation of the resilient piece to achieve secure connection with minimal effort. The resilient piece compresses during engagement to lock components securely, then maintains this locked state through elastic recovery force without requiring continuous manual input, making both engagement and disengagement effort-free operations
3Productivity
If a rotatable collar with plug-connection trackway is used, then rapid assembly is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable collar integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides the trackway for guiding the engaging protrusion, houses the resilient piece for locking, includes limiting walls for positioning, and serves as the rotational interface for rapid assembly. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate parts needed while achieving rapid assembly through a single rotational motion
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 quick connector enables rapid assembly and disassembly of medical device components, reducing the effort required for secure engagement and disengagement, thereby enhancing operational convenience and efficiency for medical professionals.
Implementation Method 1
the undulant resilient piece urges the first limiting wall and the second limiting wall to move away from each other
Data Source
AI summary
A quick connector with a compressive and rotational locking and unlocking mechanism includes a socket, a plug, a rotatable collar and an undulant resilient piece. The socket includes a first connector body and a plug-connection trackway extending obliquely and having an engaging notch at a terminal end thereof. The plug includes a second connector body and a first limiting wall protruding from the plug. The rotatable collar can be assembled on the plug and includes an engaging protrusion and a second limiting wall. When the rotatable collar is rotated, the engaging protrusion enters into the plug-connection trackway and moves to the terminal end of the plug-connection trackway, and the undulant resilient piece abuts against and forces the first and second limiting walls away from each other, such that the engaging protrusion is lodged in the engaging notch to form a locked state.