Rotary Multi-Drug Valve for Backpriming and Flush Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IV therapy systems face challenges in safely and efficiently administering multiple drug fluids to patients, particularly due to the risk of drug incompatibility and the need for complex priming and flushing procedures, which can lead to errors and contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A valve design that allows for sequential administration of multiple drug fluids using a single valve position, enabling backpriming, drug administration, and flushing without mixing incompatible fluids, by utilizing a rotational axis with distinct levels for flushing and drug inlets, and a distribution channel for flushing fluid access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drug fluids are administered using separate IV sets with multiple valves and connectors, then each drug can be administered independently, but the system complexity increases and the risk of drug incompatibility and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple drug administration functions into a single valve body with multiple inlets (one for each drug fluid) and a common outlet. This merging eliminates the need for separate IV sets and multiple connectors, reducing system complexity while maintaining the ability to administer multiple drug fluids sequentially through a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve body serves multiple functions: it can receive different drug fluids through separate inlets, selectively connect each drug to the common outlet, and provide a common flushing pathway. This multi-functionality replaces what previously required multiple separate valves and connectors, simplifying the overall system while maintaining versatility in drug administration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate IV sets are used for each drug fluid, then drug administration is flexible, but the risk of drug incompatibility due to residual fluids in connectors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flushing function as a separate, dedicated inlet (flushing inlet) distinct from the drug fluid inlets. This allows the common pathway and outlet to be thoroughly flushed with a neutral fluid between different drug administrations, removing residual incompatible drugs from the system while maintaining flexible drug administration capabilities through the multi-inlet design.
Solution Approach 2:
The neutral flushing fluid acts as an intermediary substance that cleanses the common pathway and outlet between different drug administrations. This intermediary flushing step prevents direct contact between incompatible drug fluids that might otherwise mix through residual fluids in connectors, eliminating drug incompatibility risks while preserving administration flexibility.
3Reliability
If complex priming and flushing procedures are used to prevent drug incompatibility, then drug safety is improved, but the administration process becomes more time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed with dedicated flushing inlets and common pathways that allow flushing to be performed as a preliminary action between drug administrations. The structure enables quick connection of flushing bags and systematic flushing of all common pathways before the next drug is administered, making the safety procedure more efficient and less time-consuming while maintaining thoroughness.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve separates drug fluid pathways from the common outlet pathway, with each drug having its own inlet but sharing the outlet. This segmentation allows independent flushing of the common pathway without affecting the individual drug inlets, enabling faster and more systematic flushing procedures that reduce time while ensuring complete removal of residual drugs for safety.
4Ease of operation
If multiple valves and connectors are used for each drug fluid, then each drug can be controlled independently, but the risk of connection errors and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control functions into a single valve body where each drug fluid inlet can be independently controlled through internal valve mechanisms. This unified structure eliminates numerous external connectors and separate valves, reducing the number of connection points where errors could occur while maintaining independent control over each drug's administration through the integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve and a method for administering a plurality of drug fluids to a patient are disclosed. For each drug fluid, the valve may be rotated into a selected drug position associated with the drug fluid. With the valve being in the selected drug position, a backpriming may be performed of a connector line of a drug container containing the drug fluid. Thereafter, the drug fluid may be administered with the valve being in the same selected drug position. Thereafter, the valve may be flushed, optionally while maintaining the same selected valve position.