Quick-Disconnect Fluid Coupling With Low-Spill Shut-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid handling systems in medical contexts face challenges with fluid spillage during and after disconnection, leading to contamination, safety risks, and increased clean-up costs, particularly in quick disconnect devices.
Innovation Solution
A low-spillage quick disconnect fluid coupling device is designed with pivotable body portions and a core member, featuring an engagement mechanism that limits core member pivot, a seal to prevent bio-contamination, and a robust locking system providing audible and tactile feedback, ensuring minimal spillage and secure connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If quick disconnect devices are used to enable rapid connection and disconnection, then ease of operation is improved, but fluid spillage increases leading to contamination and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The shut-off member is positioned in advance to occlude the aperture before the body portions are fully separated. When the first and second body portions are in the separated configuration, the shut-off member proactively blocks fluid flow path, preventing spillage before it can occur during the disconnection process
Solution Approach 2:
The shut-off member acts as an intermediary element between the first and second body portions. This intermediate component controls fluid flow by occluding the aperture when body portions are separated, mediating the transition between connected and separated states to prevent harmful fluid spillage
2Ease of operation
If the core member is allowed to pivot freely with the body portions, then ease of operation is improved, but fluid spillage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The core member is configured with dynamic movement characteristics - it can pivot relative to the body portions during connection and disconnection operations, but its movement is controlled and limited. The engagement mechanism allows necessary pivoting for operation while constraining the core member to prevent excessive movement that would cause spillage
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement mechanism changes the pivot parameter of the core member based on operational state. During connection/disconnection, the core member is allowed to pivot within certain limits. When body portions are separated, the engagement mechanism constrains the pivot angle to ensure the core member maintains a position that occludes the aperture and prevents fluid spillage
3Reliability
If the seal material is made softer to improve sealing, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is constructed using composite material structure - a softer sealing material is combined with a harder structural material. The softer material provides effective sealing contact with the mating surface, while the harder material provides structural support and ease of manufacturing. This composite approach achieves reliable sealing without the manufacturing difficulties of entirely soft seals
Data Source
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AI summary
Some fluid coupling devices described herein are configured for use in fluid systems for the purpose of providing a low-spill quick disconnect. Particular embodiments of these fluid coupling devices can be configured to improve medical fluid handling equipment because the fluid coupling devices can be connected and disconnected (e.g., multiple times) while minimizing fluid spillage.