Respiratory Fluid Trap With Assembly-Actuated Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid traps for respiratory therapy systems are difficult to keep level, leading to inefficient fluid collection and potential leakage, especially when used around a patient bedside.
Innovation Solution
A reusable fluid trap design featuring a simple, three-part configuration with a valve that ensures proper assembly and prevents leakage, while allowing for easy cleaning and reprocessing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the fluid trap is made with inlet/outlet ports in a 'V' configuration to intersect breathing gas conduits, then the fluid trap can be connected to the breathing limb, but it becomes difficult to keep level and properly drain fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid trap is divided into separate components: a trap body, a closure assembly with inlet/outlet ports, and a valve assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the closure assembly can maintain the V-configuration for easy connection to breathing limbs while the trap body can be designed with features that facilitate proper leveling and draining.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the V-configured inlet/outlet ports and the trap body. It provides controlled fluid flow while allowing the trap to maintain proper orientation, mediating between the connection requirements and the draining requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the fluid trap is designed for reusable application, then it can be cleaned and reprocessed, but it requires additional cleaning and sterilization procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is segmented into separable components (trap body, closure assembly, valve assembly) that can be easily disassembled for cleaning and reprocessing. This allows each component to be cleaned independently, removing contaminants more effectively while maintaining the structural integrity needed for reusable application.
Solution Approach 2:
The design facilitates the recovery and reuse of the trap components after cleaning and sterilization. The separable structure allows complete disassembly for thorough cleaning, then reassembly for continued use, maximizing the utility of the reusable trap while minimizing waste.
3Reliability
If the valve is configured to seal when the closure is not mounted, then fluid leakage is prevented, but fluid cannot be collected when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed with dynamic sealing characteristics that change based on the assembly state. When the closure is not mounted, the valve seals to prevent leakage. When the closure is mounted, the valve opens to allow fluid collection. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between leakage prevention and fluid collection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly provides self-regulating fluid flow control based on the presence or absence of the closure assembly. It automatically seals when the closure is removed and opens when mounted, eliminating the need for manual valve operation while maintaining both leakage prevention and fluid collection functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a fluid trap for use with, or comprising part of, a respiratory therapy system, and in particular comprising part of, or configured to be connected to, a breathing limb, such as an expiratory limb, of a respiratory therapy system. The fluid trap comprises a container configured to contain fluid received from an inlet; a closure, the closure and container being configured to be removeably mounted together to close the container; and a valve configured to be removeably mounted on at least one of the container and the closure, and configured to be in a closed condition which prevents fluid from flowing through the inlet when the closure is not mounted on the container, the valve being further configured to be in an open position which allows fluid from the inlet into the container when the closure is mounted on the container.