Sealed Luer Fitting Injection Device Shield Cap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional injection devices with luer fittings are prone to contamination during handling and are incompatible with direct insertion into female luer connectors, leading to potential leakage and operational issues.

Innovation Solution

A prefilled injection device with a male luer fitting and a shield cap system that provides a first seal to prevent leakage and a second seal to protect against external contamination, allowing the luer tip to be sealed and shielded until activation, enabling safe and sterile administration of medicaments through a female luer connector.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional luer fitting is used without sealing, then the device can be directly inserted into a female luer connector, but the luer tip is prone to contamination and leakage during handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shield cap is designed to fit over the male luer fitting, with the first seal nested within the shield cap and the second seal formed between the shield cap and the male luer fitting. This nested structure provides dual sealing functionality while maintaining a compact design that does not significantly increase overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The shield cap with dual seals is pre-assembled on the male luer fitting before use, providing preliminary sealing and protection. This preliminary action ensures the luer tip is sealed and protected from contamination before insertion into the female luer connector, eliminating the need for additional sealing steps during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the luer tip is sealed to prevent contamination, then contamination is prevented, but the device cannot be directly inserted into a female luer connector

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoidinsertion ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shield cap is designed to be movable along the male luer fitting, allowing it to be positioned in different states. Before insertion, the shield cap is in a retracted position that exposes the luer tip for direct insertion into the female luer connector. After insertion, the shield cap can be advanced to provide additional sealing and protection, thus enabling both easy insertion and contamination protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a shield cap system with dual seals is added, then leakage and contamination are prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity maintenanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shield cap integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides the first seal to prevent leakage, forms the second seal with the male luer fitting to protect against contamination, and acts as a protective shield. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate components and minimizes overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shield cap serves multiple purposes: sealing the luer tip, protecting against contamination, and facilitating secure connection to the female luer connector. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address multiple requirements, thereby preventing leakage and contamination without proportionally increasing device complexity

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

Data Source

PatentEP3524299B1Injection device with sealed luer fitting
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 BECTON DICKINSON & CO
  • EP3524299B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3524299B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3524299B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to an injection device with a luer fitting (250). The injection device has a compressible syringe body defining a reservoir. A male luer fitting (250) has a channe. A first connecting structure is arranged on said male luer fitting between said base end and said luer tip. A shield cap (260) is arranged on the male luer fitting (250) and has a second connecting structure interacting with said first connecting structure to prevent inadvertent movement of said shield cap relative to said male luer fitting when said shield cap is arranged at said first position. A first seal (270) is provided for sealing said channel at said luer tip and preventing leakage therethrough of content from said reservoir at least when the shield cap is at said first position. A second seal (280) is arranged between said shield cap and said male luer fitting for sealing the outer surface and the luer tip of said male luer fitting from outside contamination. The second seal (280) is formed by said first and second connecting structures when the shield cap is arranged at the first position. The shield cap is movable relative to said male luer fitting to a second position from said first position to break the first seal.