Spike Connector Tube Kinking Prevention via Side Wall Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing spike connectors are prone to causing tube kinking and upstream occlusion, especially when the fluid reservoir and spike connector are placed at the bottom of a rucksack, leading to infusion pump alarms due to the tube bending at a sharp radius.
Innovation Solution
The spike connector design features a tube connector arranged within the gripping body, with side walls extending beyond the connector to create an open recess, allowing the tube to bend at a larger radius and preventing kinking, and includes protrusions to guide the tube out without occlusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tube connector is arranged at the bottom of the gripping body forming a protrusion, then the connection functionality is improved, but the tube bends sharply causing kinking and upstream occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The tube connector is moved from a bottom protrusion arrangement to a side wall integration arrangement. By incorporating the tube connector into the side wall of the gripping body rather than positioning it at the bottom, the design changes the spatial dimension of connection, allowing the tube to exit horizontally rather than bending sharply at the bottom, thus preventing kinking while maintaining connection functionality.
2Device complexity
If the tube connector protrudes from the bottom of the gripping body, then the spike connector structure is simplified, but the tube forms a kinking point leading to occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The tube connector is merged with the side wall of the gripping body, forming an integrated structure where the connector becomes part of the side wall rather than a separate protruding component. This merging eliminates the need for a bottom protrusion while maintaining connection functionality, and the tube exits through the side wall at a larger radius, preventing kinking.
3Ease of manufacture
If the tube connector is positioned at the bottom forming a protrusion, then manufacturing is simplified, but the tube bends at a very small bending radius causing occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The tube connector is repositioned from the bottom dimension to the side wall dimension. Instead of the tube exiting from the bottom with a sharp bend, the connector is integrated into the side wall, allowing the tube to exit laterally with a much larger bending radius, thus improving the tube shape and preventing occlusion while remaining manufacturable.
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
This design significantly reduces the risk of tube kinking and occlusion, ensuring smooth fluid flow and reducing the likelihood of infusion pump alarms during transport.
Implementation Method 1
The spike of the spike connector is plugged into a tube-shaped socket at the bottom of the fluid reservoir and retained therein by means of friction forces.
Implementation Method 2
a tube connector provided at the gripping body and fluidly communicating with the spike wherein the tube connector is adapted to be connected to a tube
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
Described is a spike connector, comprising a spike (2), a gripping body (4) carrying the spike (2) and having side walls (6; 20) which define at least one external gripping surface (6a) adapted to enable a user to grip the gripping body (4) for coupling the spike (2) with a reservoir, and a tube connector (12) provided at the gripping body (4) and fluidly communicating with the spike (2) wherein the tube connector (12) is adapted to be connected to a tube (14). According to the present invention, the tube connector (12) is arranged within the gripping body (4), wherein at least one portion of the side walls (6; 20) of the gripping body (4) extends beyond the tube connector (12) at a region of the gripping body (4) where the tube (14) is to be connected to the tube connector (12).