Rotatable Valve Liquid Mixing Infusor for Air Trapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current liquid-mixing infusors for medical applications are unable to effectively prevent air from entering the body when administering multiple solutions, as they lack a reliable mechanism to remove air from liquids and manage the connection or blocking of branch tubes.

Innovation Solution

A liquid-mixing infusor with a cylindrical chamber, branching portion, and rotatable valve that connects or blocks branch tubes, allowing air to be displaced by the drug solution before administration, ensuring that only solution flows into the patient's body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional air trap is used in an infusion tube, then air can be trapped and prevented from entering the body, but it becomes impossible to administer multiple different solutions and perform liquid mixing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair trapping capabilityVSAvoidmulti-solution administration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The infusor is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, mixing chamber) that can independently receive different solutions. Each chamber acts as a separate container that can be filled and managed independently, allowing multiple solutions to be administered through a single device while maintaining air trapping functionality in each chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The infusor integrates multiple functions into a single device: it can trap air like a traditional air trap, store multiple different solutions in separate chambers, mix these solutions in a dedicated mixing chamber, and control their administration through a rotatable valve. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate devices for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple infusion tubes are connected to administer multiple solutions, then versatility is improved, but it becomes difficult to prepare a structure that effectively prevents air from entering the body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-solution administration capabilityVSAvoidair prevention capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple infusion tubes connecting to different chambers are merged into a single integrated infusor structure. The air trapping chambers and mixing chamber work together as one unified system, combining the air prevention capability of traditional air traps with the multi-solution administration capability of multiple connected tubes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mixing chamber acts as an intermediary between the storage chambers and the administration outlet. It receives solutions from multiple chambers, allows them to mix, and then sends the mixed solution to the patient, while the air trapping chambers serve as intermediaries that prevent air from entering the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a rotatable valve is installed inside the chamber to connect or block branch tubes, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow path switching capabilityVSAvoidvalve mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve is designed to be rotatable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic switching between different flow paths. By rotating the valve body, the operator can connect or block different branch tubes as needed, providing flexible control over which chambers are connected to the mixing chamber and outlet without requiring multiple separate valves or complex switching mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1849495B1Liquid mixing infusor
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 CARDINAL HEALTH 529 LLC
  • EP1849495B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1849495B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1849495B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a liquid mixing infusor (A, B, C) comprising a main body (10, 30) having a first inlet port (16b) and an outlet port (16a) and a rotatable valve body (21,41) arranged within a chamber of said main body, said valve body being rotatable between a fluid through-flow position and a fluid blocking position, wherein said valve body (21) includes at least one actuating arm (27a, 27b, 47a, 47b) extending externally of said main body and wherein said liquid mixing infusor includes a second inlet port (12) in fluid flow connection with a fluid flow channel of said valve body.