Self-Sealing Slit for Fluid Infusion Reservoir Needle Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid infusion devices face challenges in creating a reliable seal between a removable fluid reservoir and a delivery needle, particularly when the reservoir is replaced or removed, which can lead to contamination and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sealing element with a base section, a tip section, and a retractable body section that includes a needle cavity and a self-sealing slit, allowing the sealing element to deform and retract over the needle during installation and extend to enclose it during removal, ensuring a fluid seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a removable fluid reservoir is used, then ease of replacement and maintenance is improved, but reliability of fluid seal is worsened due to potential contamination during removal and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The self-sealing slit is pre-formed in the sealing element before use. When the reservoir is removed, the slit automatically closes to seal the needle cavity, preventing contamination before it can occur. This preliminary preparation of the sealing mechanism ensures reliability during the removal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-sealing slit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the needle cavity and the external environment. During reservoir removal, the slit closes to mediate and prevent direct exposure of the needle cavity to contaminants, thus maintaining fluid seal reliability while allowing reservoir replacement.
2Reliability
If a sealing element is added to ensure fluid seal, then reliability is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed to be self-actuating through its self-sealing slit that automatically opens and closes based on the presence or absence of the reservoir. No external control mechanisms, motors, or additional actuators are required, thereby maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable fluid sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element utilizes a flexible membrane structure with a self-sealing slit that can deform and seal automatically. This flexible film approach provides effective sealing without requiring complex rigid mechanical components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing element deforms and retracts during installation, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision is worsened due to deformation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element's physical state is changed during installation - it transitions from a compressed/deformed state during insertion to a relaxed state during normal operation. The self-sealing slit geometry is designed to exploit this parameter change, opening automatically when the reservoir is installed and closing when removed, thereby facilitating ease of operation without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
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 sealing element effectively prevents contamination and ensures a reliable fluid seal, allowing for easy replacement of the reservoir while maintaining the integrity of the delivery system.
Implementation Method 1
a self-sealing slit formed in the tip section to accommodate the hollow fluid delivery needle when the sealing element is in a retracted position
Implementation Method 2
The internal relief features cause the sealing element to deform and retract over the hollow fluid delivery needle in response to a longitudinal force applied to the tip section
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing assembly for a fluid infusion device includes a base plate, a reservoir port receptacle, a flow base component, and a needle sealing element. The receptacle receives the reservoir port, and has proximal and distal ends, and a needle entry in the distal end to receive a hollow needle of a fluid reservoir. The flow base component has an inlet structure defining a fluid chamber, and a needle guide pin protruding therefrom. The end of the guide pin fits within the hollow needle. The needle sealing element has a proximal flange adjacent to the inlet structure, a distal flange opposite the proximal flange, a neck section between the flanges, and a needle opening extending through the neck section. The needle sealing element is positioned within the port receptacle such that the neck section surrounds the end section of the needle guide pin.