Spigot Tube Coupler Grooves for Stronger Tube Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Typical spigot tube couplers in medical devices lack sufficient tubing retention force due to the lack of a bonding layer between the spigot and the tube, as the glue applied to the outside of the spigot is often wiped off during assembly, resulting in a weak connection.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating grooves on the outer surface of the spigot to create a larger bonding area for the adhesive, ensuring that the bonding agent remains in place and forms a strong bond between the spigot and the tube, enhancing the retention strength of the connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If glue is applied to the outside of the spigot and assembled into a tube, then bonding is provided, but the glue is wiped off during assembly due to friction fit, resulting in insufficient tubing retention force
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding agent application surface is segmented into multiple grooves (e.g., 3-10 grooves) around the spigot outer surface. Each groove acts as an independent retention zone that holds bonding agent separately, preventing the bonding agent from being wiped off uniformly across the surface during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves serve as intermediary structures between the spigot and the bonding agent. These grooves capture and hold the bonding agent, acting as a mediator that prevents direct contact and wiping of the bonding agent with the tube inner surface during the friction fit assembly process.
2Ease of operation
If a friction fit is used between spigot and tube, then assembly is simple, but the bonding agent oozes out during assembly, reducing connection strength
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves segment the bonding agent into multiple localized pockets, allowing the friction fit assembly process to proceed simply while the segmented bonding agent remains trapped in the grooves and maintains connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves are pre-formed on the spigot surface before assembly. This preliminary structuring of the bonding agent retention zones ensures that when bonding agent is applied and the assembly process begins, the bonding agent is already positioned and contained to prevent oozing.
3Ease of manufacture
If a smooth spigot surface is used, then manufacturing is simple, but the bonding agent surface area is insufficient for strong bonding
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves add a dimensional feature to the spigot surface, transforming it from a smooth two-dimensional surface to a three-dimensional structured surface with multiple grooves. This increases the bonding agent surface area without significantly complicating the manufacturing process, as the grooves can be formed through relatively simple machining or molding operations.
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 grooves on the spigot surface effectively retain the bonding agent, increasing the retention strength of the spigot-tube connection beyond the friction fit alone, providing a more secure and reliable fluid flow in medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more grooves are configured to receive a bonding agent to provide one or more bonding layers between the spigot and the tube
Data Source
AI summary
Spigot tube couplers for fluid flow sets and devices are provided. The spigot tube coupler includes a stop surface and a spigot extending from the stop surface and configured to be inserted into a tube. The spigot includes an insertion end, a fluid port, an outer surface, a collar and a plurality of grooves disposed around the outer surface. The plurality of grooves are configured to receive a bonding agent to provide a plurality of bonding areas between the spigot and the tube. Methods for assembling a spigot tube coupler and a tube are also provided.