Stopcock Fluid Flow Guide for Internal Volume Flushing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swabbable stopcocks fail to effectively flush residual liquids from their internal volumes, leading to potential clotting, infection, and inaccurate medication dosages, requiring additional syringes and exposing medical sets to the atmosphere, increasing contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A stopcock design with a housing element and handle element that allow for selective fluid passageways to enable flushing of internal volumes without flowing entirely through the port, using a fluid flow guide to direct liquid flow and prevent residual liquid accumulation, thereby automatically flushing residual blood or medicament back to the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing swabbable stopcocks are used, then the stopcock can be sealed and controlled, but residual liquids cannot be effectively flushed from internal volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The stopcock is divided into multiple functional zones including a first port, second port, third port, and internal volume regions. The fluid passageway is segmented to create separate flow paths that enable selective flushing of different internal regions without mixing all fluids together.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid flow guide acts as an intermediary element within the stopcock body that directs and controls fluid flow paths. This flow guide enables the flushing fluid to reach specific internal volumes and redirect residual liquids back to the patient without requiring the fluid to pass through all ports.
2Reliability
If additional syringes are used to flush residual liquids, then flushing capability improves, but contamination risks increase due to atmospheric exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The stopcock is designed to perform self-flushing using the existing fluid flow through the arterial line. The system uses its own operational fluid to automatically flush residual liquids from internal volumes back to the patient, eliminating the need for external flushing operations that would require breaking the sealed system.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopcock integrates multiple functions into a single device: fluid flow control between ports, sealing capability, and automatic flushing of internal volumes. The same fluid passageway that delivers medication also serves to flush residual liquids, eliminating the need for separate flushing mechanisms or additional syringes.
3Productivity
If fluid flows entirely through the port being flushed, then flushing action is strong, but accurate medication dosing cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid flow guide creates localized flow paths that direct flushing action specifically to the internal volume regions that need cleaning. The flow characteristics are different in different regions: high-velocity flushing flow in the internal volume and controlled medication flow through the ports to the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopcock handle can be positioned in multiple orientations to dynamically change the active fluid passageways and flow directions. This allows the system to switch between different operational modes: normal medication delivery and internal volume flushing, with the flow characteristics adapting to the current operational requirement.
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 design ensures automatic flushing of residual liquids without extra syringes, reducing contamination risks and ensuring accurate dosages by preventing clotting and infection, while maintaining a sealed system during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid flow guide associated with the at least one fluid passageway for enabling flushing of the internal volume of the at least one of the first, second and third ports when the housing element and the handle element are in the at least one of the mutual positions by the fluid flow which does not flow entirely through the port whose internal volume is being flushed
Data Source
AI summary
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a stopcock including a housing element defining at least first, second and third ports, a handle element which is selectably positionable relative to the housing element, at least one fluid passageway communicating between at least two of the at least first, second and third ports, the at least one fluid passageway being selectably defined by at least one of the housing element and the handle element, the at least one fluid passageway being configured for enabling flushing an internal volume of at least one of the first, second and third ports by a fluid flow which does not flow entirely through the port whose internal volume is being flushed.