Retaining Finger Coupler Assembly for Secure IV Connector Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional couplers used in medical IV setups often fail to securely attach tubing and catheters, leading to accidental dislodgement under normal patient movements or activities, resulting in frequent interruptions in medical fluid administration.
Innovation Solution
A coupler design featuring radially biased retaining fingers that engage with connectors to prevent axial motion and provide secure retention, while allowing intentional release with a sufficient pullout force, ensuring stable fluid communication between tubing portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional couplers are used to connect tubing and catheters, then the device structure is simple, but the connectors become dislodged under normal patient movements or activities
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining fingers are designed to be radially movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position. During insertion, the fingers radially expand to engage the connector, and during normal use, they maintain constant radial pressure to prevent dislodgement. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing reliable retention through active engagement rather than static structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler is segmented into multiple independent retaining fingers instead of a single monolithic retaining structure. Each finger can independently engage with the connector features, distributing the retention force and allowing the system to maintain reliability while keeping each individual finger structurally simple. This segmentation enables reliable connector retention without requiring an overly complex overall coupler structure.
2Reliability
If the coupler uses strong retention forces to prevent dislodgement, then connector security is improved, but intentional removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism exploits a parameter change in the connector assembly - specifically, the presence of a relief feature that changes the engagement geometry. During normal use, the retaining fingers engage the connector body with strong radial force. When the relief feature is activated (by pulling the connector body outward), the engagement parameter changes, allowing the fingers to disengage. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining strong retention under normal conditions while enabling easy removal when the specific geometric condition is met.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief feature acts as an intermediary element between the connector body and the retaining fingers. This intermediary feature provides a specific engagement point that allows the retaining fingers to maintain strong grip during normal use but facilitates easy release when activated. The intermediary relief feature translates the user's pulling action into effective disengagement of the retention mechanism, solving the contradiction between strong retention and easy removal.
3Ease of operation
If the coupler allows easy removal of connectors, then ease of operation is improved, but accidental dislodgement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler employs different local qualities in different regions - the retaining fingers have a dual nature where they provide strong radial retention force during normal use but are designed to yield or disengage when specific conditions are met. The local quality of the finger material and geometry is optimized to maintain strong engagement under normal patient movement forces while allowing controlled release when the relief feature is activated. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between easy removal and accidental dislodgement prevention.
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 coupler effectively prevents unintended dislodgement of connectors, maintaining secure fluid communication and allowing intentional removal when needed, thereby reducing interruptions in medical fluid administration.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of first retaining fingers disposed adjacent to the first end and extending radially inward into the cavity, wherein the plurality of first retaining fingers are radially biased inward toward the cavity and are configured to engage against a collar of the first connector to prevent axial motion
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of second retaining fingers are configured to release the second connector by radially expanding in response to a pullout force exerted on the second connector exceeding the retention force
Data Source
AI summary
Couplers are described herein. A coupler includes a coupler body, a plurality of first retaining fingers, and a plurality of second retaining fingers. The coupler body includes a first end and a second end, and defining a cavity, the cavity configured to receive a first connector and a second connector. The plurality of first retaining fingers are configured to engage against a collar of the first connector to prevent axial motion of the first connector relative to the coupler. The plurality of second retaining fingers are configured to engage against a shoulder of the second connector with a retention force, and release the second connector by radially expanding in response to a pullout force exerted on the second connector exceeding the retention force.