Roller Tubing Clearing Device Minimizes Stretch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for clearing surgical tubing are time-consuming and often result in tubing stretching, leading to inefficiencies and discomfort for patients and hospital personnel, as manual clearing is labor-intensive and many existing devices are cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring a pair of rollers and a grip assembly that can be adjusted to engage tubing with a minimum gap of approximately twice the tubing's wall thickness, minimizing stretching and effectively clearing fluids and solids while being easy to use and assemble.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hand clearing of tubing is performed, then the tubing can be cleared of blockages, but the process becomes excessively time consuming and labor intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetubing clearing efficiencyVSAvoidtime required for tubing clearing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual hand-squeezing mechanical action with a mechanical device consisting of rollers that move along the tubing to clear blockages. This substitution automates the clearing process, significantly improving productivity while reducing the time required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The device allows the tubing to clear itself of blockages through the mechanical action of the rollers moving along its length, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing labor intensity while maintaining effective clearing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If tubing is repeatedly squeezed and pulled by hand, then blockages can be cleared, but the tubing becomes stretched to almost twice its original length

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetubing clearing capabilityVSAvoidtubing length

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pulling and stretching mechanical action with a rolling mechanism that moves along the tubing without extending it. The rollers clear blockages through compression and friction rather than pulling, preventing tubing elongation while maintaining clearing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of pulling the tubing to clear blockages (which causes stretching), the device pushes or rolls along the tubing to achieve clearing. This inverted approach eliminates the harmful stretching effect while maintaining the clearing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If existing clearing devices are used, then tubing clearing is facilitated, but the devices become awkward or cumbersome to use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetubing clearing facilitationVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into simple functional components: a handle, a roller mechanism, and a transmission system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall device simple and easy to operate, avoiding the complexity of integrated complex systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses adjustable parameters such as roller diameter, roller spacing, and applied force to adapt to different tubing sizes and blockage types. This flexibility allows the device to be effective across various applications without requiring complex mechanisms, maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 device efficiently clears tubing without excessive stretching, reducing the time required for the process and minimizing patient discomfort, while being adaptable to various tubing sizes and easy to integrate into medical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

arranged in a gripping assembly a plurality of rollers... bringing the rollers together to a distance of approximately two times a wall thickness of the tubing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS8287654B2Apparatus for clearing tubing and related method

Publication Date: 2012.10.16 GODSDVC LLC

AI summary

An apparatus for clearing tubing includes a grip assembly connected to the pair of rollers. The grip assembly is operable to move the rollers to engage the tubing therebetween. The movement of the grip assembly is limited such that a minimum tubing gap between the rollers is equal to approximately twice a wall thickness of the tubing. The rollers are moved along the tubing to clear obstructions. The apparatus can also include a clamp assembly having one or more plates that limits movement of the grip assembly to bring the rollers no closer than the minimum tubing gap. Alternately, the grip assembly can include first and second shell halves movable between open and closed positions with a channel defined therebetween, and the rollers are mounted in the grip assembly.