Snap-Fit Fluid Connector Valve for Secure IV Line Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical fluid connections, such as those used in IV fluid lines, are prone to unintended dislodgement or disconnection due to unexpected forces, leading to potential patient injury, infection, and exposure to harmful medicaments.
Innovation Solution
A fluid connector system comprising valve assemblies with a sleeve and arm design that resist separation by engaging a ridge and protrusion, ensuring secure coupling and preventing fluid flow when disconnected, while allowing reconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple fluid connection is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to unintended dislodgement
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs dynamic elements including a movable post that can shift between blocked and unblocked positions, and a biasing element that provides continuous force to maintain connection. The sleeve can deform elastically to accommodate connection while the arm with protrusion provides dynamic resistance to separation forces, allowing the system to adapt to applied loads while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing element pre-loads the post against the sleeve ridge, creating a preliminary counter-force that resists separation before any dislodgement force is applied. This preliminary anti-action ensures that unintended forces must overcome the biasing element's force before disconnection can occur, thereby preventing accidental dislodgement while maintaining ease of intentional connection.
2Reliability
If a secure connection mechanism is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into distinct functional segments: a body with port, a separate arm with protrusion, a movable post, a biasing element, and a sleeve with ridge. Each segment performs a specific function (connection, engagement, blocking, springing, containment), allowing the complex reliability function to be achieved through modular, simple components that are easier to manufacture and assemble than a monolithic complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing element automatically maintains the post in the blocked position and exerts continuous force to keep the arm engaged with the sleeve ridge. The ridge and protrusion geometry automatically provides mechanical interlocking and resistance to separation. These self-service features maintain reliability without requiring external control systems, operators, or additional complex mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a valve element is added to prevent fluid flow when disconnected, then harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element is merged with the post structure, combining the connection control function (blocking fluid flow) with the mechanical engagement function (maintaining connection). The post serves dual purposes: it blocks the fluid passage when disconnected and simultaneously engages with the sleeve ridge to prevent dislodgement. This merging eliminates the need for a separate valve mechanism, reducing device complexity while still preventing fluid leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The post is designed as a multi-functional element that performs both valve operation (blocking fluid flow through the port) and mechanical connection maintenance (engaging with the sleeve ridge via the arm). This universal element handles multiple critical functions with a single component, avoiding the addition of separate valve mechanisms and keeping the overall device complexity manageable while effectively preventing harmful fluid leakage.
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid connector systems that can include first and second valve assemblies that are couplable together to form a fluid pathway through the fluid connector system when the first and second valve assemblies are coupled together, and can resist fluid flow through each of the first and second valve assemblies when the first and second valve assemblies are separated from each other, where the first and second valve assemblies can include a compressible element or post positioned within a channel and configured resist fluid flow through the respective first or second valve assembly in a first position and to reduce the resistance to fluid flow through the first or second valve assembly in a second position, and the first and second valve assemblies including a sleeve and one or more arm configured to engage each other to form a snap fitting feature that can resist separation therebetween.