Sterile Docking Device Using Joule Heating for Sealed Conduit Connection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterile docking devices for medical fluid flow systems are either costly, require significant investment in equipment, or are complex to use, lacking a low-cost and efficient solution for forming sealed communication between conduits while maintaining sterility.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating electrical current in conductive portions of mating walls to heat and sterilize the surfaces, followed by creating an aperture for sealed communication between conduit subassemblies, using either direct electrical connection or induction, with the walls being made of conductive materials like metallic foil or laminated with conductive layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiant energy is used to melt membranes and form sterile pathways, then sterility is maintained, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces radiant energy heating with direct electrical resistance heating through conductive portions embedded in the mating walls. This substitution uses electrical fields instead of radiant energy fields, eliminating the need for expensive radiant heating equipment while maintaining sterile pathway formation through controlled melting of the plastic membrane.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive portions are integrated directly into the docking device structure, allowing the device to generate its own heating capability through electrical current. This self-heating mechanism eliminates dependence on external radiant energy sources, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving sterility during the docking process.
2Reliability
If electron beam sterilization is used for isolated portions, then sterility is achieved, but equipment investment increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electron beam sterilization with electrical resistance heating through conductive portions. This uses electrical fields directly at the docking interface rather than requiring substantial electron beam equipment infrastructure, dramatically reducing equipment investment while achieving the same sterility outcome through localized heating and membrane melting.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive portions are strategically placed only at the specific locations where sterilization and pathway formation are needed in the mating walls. This localized approach concentrates the sterilization function exactly where required, eliminating the need for comprehensive electron beam sterilization equipment while maintaining sterility of the critical pathways.
3Strength
If heated wafer or blade is used to join tubing, then sealed connection is formed, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating function, sealing function, and pathway formation function into a single integrated docking interface with embedded conductive portions. This eliminates the need for separate heated wafers or blades and their associated precise movement mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining strong sealed connections through the melting and bonding of plastic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking device itself generates the necessary heat through its embedded conductive portions when electrical current is applied. This self-heating capability eliminates dependence on external heated tools or wafers, simplifying the overall device structure while ensuring reliable sealed connections through controlled plastic melting and bonding.
4Reliability
If manual joining with piercing member is used, then sterility is maintained, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical piercing and joining operations with automated electrical resistance heating through conductive portions. This electrical heating method melts and bonds the plastic materials automatically when current is applied, eliminating the need for manual piercing actions while maintaining sterility through controlled heating that seals pathways without requiring open manual manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive portions are pre-integrated into the mating walls during manufacturing, preparing the docking interface in advance for automated heating and sealing. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for manual assembly steps during operation, as the heating and sealing functions are already built into the device structure, improving ease of operation while preserving sterility.
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 approach provides a low-cost, efficient, and effective method for forming sealed connections between conduits, ensuring sterility by heating and sterilizing the surfaces before creating a fluid pathway, thus addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
generating electrical current in a conductive portion of at least one, and preferably both, of the mating walls
Implementation Method 2
electrical current may be generated in the conductive portion(s) in different ways, including by direct connection between opposite poles of a generator or by induction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Method and apparatus are disclosed for forming a sealed communication between conduits or conduit subassemblies (14, 12), each of which has a wall (22, 32) with an exterior surface (24, 34), and at least one of the walls includes an electrically conductive portion. The exterior surfaces may be brought into a facing relationship, and each conductive portion is heated sufficiently to sterilize the exterior surfaces of the walls by generating electrical current in the conductive portion, such as by application of a voltage or by induction. An aperture is then provided, as by an aperture - forming member, through the facing walls to provide communication between the conduits or conduit subassemblies.