Sealing Device With Varying Wall Thickness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing devices for medical instruments, particularly for trocars and endoscope working channels, face challenges in being simultaneously fluid-tight, robust, reusable, autoclavable, offering low resistance to instrument movement, and maintaining fluid-tightness during insertion and withdrawal without turning inside out, while also being cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device with a fastening area, a sealing area, and two elastic walls with varying wall thicknesses, including an annular transition region with increased rigidity to prevent deformation, a slotted membrane for fluid-tight closure, and a friction-reducing layer to minimize mechanical stress and enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sealing device uses thin elastic walls to reduce resistance to instrument movement, then ease of operation is improved, but mechanical strength and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device employs varying wall thicknesses in different regions: thin walls in the sealing area for flexibility and low resistance, and thickened transition regions for mechanical strength. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region's properties for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing device is divided into functionally distinct segments: a sealing area with thin elastic walls for instrument passage, and transition regions with increased wall thickness for structural support. This segmentation allows each part to independently optimize its properties without compromising the whole.
2Ease of manufacture
If the sealing device uses uniform thin walls to reduce manufacturing cost, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability and resistance to deformation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than uniform thickness, the device uses locally varied wall thickness with thickenings at transition regions. This maintains manufacturing simplicity through molding while providing enhanced reliability where structural support is needed.
3Reliability
If the sealing device uses thick rigid walls to prevent deformation, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation and instrument insertion deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing area uses thin flexible walls for easy instrument insertion, while transition regions use thickened walls for deformation resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by assigning different mechanical properties to different functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The device segments the wall structure into flexible sealing portions and rigid support portions, allowing each segment to perform its optimized function without compromising the other.
4Reliability
If the sealing device uses multiple sealing elements to ensure fluid-tightness, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sealing functions are merged into a single integrated elastic body with continuous walls. The sealing area, transition regions, and fastening area form one piece, eliminating the need for separate sealing elements while maintaining fluid-tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body performs multiple functions simultaneously: sealing, structural support, and instrument guidance, all within a single component. This universality reduces complexity while maintaining reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures reliable, long-lasting fluid-tight sealing with reduced risk of deformation or damage, allowing for easy insertion and withdrawal of medical instruments while maintaining mechanical robustness and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic wall which surrounds the sealing area in a ring-like manner... a second resilient wall, which annularly surrounds and is spaced from the first wall
Implementation Method 2
a friction-reducing layer to minimize mechanical stress and enhance durability
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The device (30) has a mounting portion for securing the device on a tube (20). A set of ring-like sealing portions is adapted to a circumference of the device so as to abut an introduced medical instrument i.e. endoscope. An elastic wall is arranged to enclose the ring-like sealing portions. A set of annular edges is connected to the set of sealing portions. An annular transition portion is arranged to join an edge of the elastic wall with an edge of an annular wall. The transition portion has a greater wall thickness than the walls. The sealing device is formed as one-piece. An independent claim is also included for a tube.