Separable Infusion Set With Rotatable Cap And Self-Sealing Septum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion sets face challenges such as difficulty in assembly, poor seal integrity, unidirectional extension tubing, and increased risk of infection due to hidden insertion sites, making them cumbersome and prone to contamination.
Innovation Solution
The infusion set design incorporates a self-sealing septum, a rotatable cap assembly, and a latching mechanism that allows for easy alignment and secure attachment of the cap and base, enabling flexible tubing orientation and improved visibility of the insertion site, thereby reducing the risk of infection and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cap and base are made separable for easy assembly and disassembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of the seal may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The septum is pre-installed in the base with a self-sealing design that automatically seals when the cap is attached or detached. This preliminary preparation ensures that the seal is already in place and functional before the actual connection is made, eliminating the need for complex sealing operations during assembly and disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-sealing septum automatically seals itself when the cap is attached or detached without requiring additional sealing actions or components. The septum's material properties and design allow it to maintain seal integrity through the repeated attachment and detachment cycles, making the system self-sufficient for sealing operations.
2Device complexity
If the extension tubing is fixed in a unidirectional orientation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cap assembly is designed to rotate freely on the base, transforming the fixed, static orientation into a dynamic, adjustable configuration. This rotational freedom allows the extension tubing to be repositioned to various angles and directions while maintaining a relatively simple base structure, thus achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Device complexity
If the insertion site is hidden from view, then the device complexity is reduced, but the object-affected harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base incorporates a transparent or translucent window that allows visual inspection of the insertion site. This optical property change enables users to monitor the insertion site for signs of infection or complications without adding complex mechanical inspection devices, thus reducing harmful factors while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Reliability
If the cap is difficult to remove and re-attach, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cap and base are designed with pre-aligned attachment features and a self-latching mechanism that automatically engages when the cap is placed on the base. This preliminary configuration ensures proper alignment and secure connection without requiring complex manual adjustment or forcing actions, making the cap easy to remove and re-attach while maintaining reliable connection.
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
Infusion sets for insertion into an insertion site for prevent-ing misalignment of the base and cap or fluid connector by providing one or more alignment features between each, and in alternative embodiments, provide one or more features to secure the cap or fluid connector to the base in anyone of a number of rotational positions and having release features to allow the cap or fluid connector to be rotatable with respect to the base portion of the infusion set, and yet easily removed and inserted. Further embodiments provide infusion sets wherein the user can easily see the insertion site of the catheter and the skin, to determine if infections have occurred at an earlier stage than was possible using prior art infusion sets and with substantially less difficulty.