Sampling Port With Movable Guide Member For Vial Diameter Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical sampling ports struggle to accommodate different diameter sampling vials effectively, leading to potential damage and incomplete penetration, while also requiring a mechanism to prevent needle stick injuries.

Innovation Solution

A sampling port design featuring a body with multiple diameter sections and a movable guide member that adjusts between guide and non-guide positions to accommodate various vial sizes, along with a protective mechanism to close the port and prevent accidental access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the sampling port uses a fixed internal diameter, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different diameter sampling vials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different vial diametersVSAvoidport structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to transition between different positions. When moved to the first position, it guides smaller diameter vials; when moved to the second position, it allows larger diameter vials to pass. This dynamic adjustment enables a single port structure to accommodate multiple vial sizes without requiring multiple dedicated ports.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sampling port is divided into functional sections: a body portion with a passage, a movable guide member that can be positioned in different locations within the passage, and a closure member. The guide member itself can be segmented into multiple portions that can move relative to each other, allowing independent adjustment of each segment to accommodate different vial diameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the guide member is always extended into the space, then small vials are guided accurately, but large vials cannot be inserted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevial alignment precisionVSAvoidvial size range

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can be moved between at least two positions. In the first position, the guide member extends into the space to provide precise alignment for small-diameter vials. In the second position, the guide member is retracted or moved to allow large-diameter vials to be inserted without interference. This dynamic positioning resolves the conflict between providing guidance precision and accommodating size variability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Before inserting a vial, the guide member is preliminarily positioned according to the expected vial size. For small vials, the guide member is extended into the space in advance to ensure proper alignment during insertion. For large vials, the guide member is preliminarily moved to the second position to clear the insertion path. This preliminary positioning action ensures that the appropriate guide configuration is in place before the vial insertion process begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the sampling port remains open for easy access, then vial insertion is convenient, but needle stick injury risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevial insertion convenienceVSAvoidneedle stick injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The closure member integrates multiple functions: it closes the open end of the sampling port to prevent accidental needle stick injuries, and it can be moved to allow vial insertion when needed. The guide member and closure member work together as an integrated system where the guide member can be positioned to guide vials during insertion, and the closure member provides protective closure when the port is not in use. This merging of functions into a single component reduces the need for separate protective devices while maintaining both safety and operational convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11285080B2Sampling port

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 NOBLE HOUSE GROUP

AI summary

A sampling port (10) has a generally cylindrical first portion (36), a generally cylindrical second portion (34) with a smaller diameter than the first portion (36) and a guide member (66) that rotates about a hinge (56) to extend into the second portion (34) to reduce the effective diameter of the second portion (34). The guide member (66) and/or the second and/or first portions (34, 36) are shaped so that the guide member can extend further into the sampling port (10) than a simple cylindrical guide member rotating into simple cylindrical first and second portions.