Rotary Valve Interface for Syringe Vial and Needle Sterility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current injection devices lack an efficient mechanism for seamlessly interfacing between drug vials, syringes, and needles, particularly in ensuring sterility and preventing contamination, while also facilitating easy operation and secure needle handling.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a vial adaptor, injection device port, and a valve that transitions between orientations to establish fluid communication between the vial and syringe or needle, with a housing that includes markers for user indication and a tamper-proof needle compartment, allowing for secure operation and easy removal of the needle and syringe as a unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve mechanism is introduced to control fluid flow between vial and needle, then sterility and contamination prevention are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism is designed to automatically transition between orientations based on the position of the injection device port, without requiring manual operation. The system self-regulates fluid flow paths through mechanical coupling between the rotating port and the valve, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms while maintaining sterility.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve transition mechanism is merged with the injection device port rotation mechanism. The same rotational motion that positions the injection device port also drives the valve transition, combining two functions into a single mechanical action and reducing overall device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a rotation mechanism is added to transition the valve between orientations, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve transition mechanism is merged with the injection device port rotation mechanism. The same rotational motion that positions the injection device port also drives the valve transition, combining two functions into a single mechanical action and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A mechanical coupling or linkage acts as an intermediary between the rotating injection device port and the valve mechanism. This intermediary transfers the rotational motion automatically, allowing the valve to transition without requiring separate control inputs from the user.
3Reliability
If the vial adaptor is made permanently connected to the valve, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into modular components: the vial adaptor remains permanently connected to the valve for reliability, while the injection device port is made separable and rotatable. This segmentation allows the permanently connected portion to maintain structural integrity and the separable portion to provide operational flexibility.
4Reliability
If the needle compartment is fully enclosed and tamper-proof, then sterility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is pre-positioned and secured within the enclosed compartment in a sterile state before use. The compartment remains sealed and tamper-proof until the moment of injection, at which point the entire assembly is removed as a single unit. This preliminary preparation maintains sterility while simplifying the actual injection operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and devices for interfacing between a medicinal vial, a hypodermic needle, and an injection device such as a syringe, comprising a valve, functionally associated with said vial adaptor, said injection device port, and said needle, said valve having a first orientation wherein said injection device port is in fluid flow communication with said vial adaptor and a second orientation wherein said injection device port is in fluid flow communication with said hypodermic needle, wherein rotation of said injection device port between a first position and a second position thereof, drives transition of said valve from said first orientation to said second orientation.