Switchable Adapter for Suction Tube with Rotating Base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional suction tube adapters risk patient infection due to air leakage and are cumbersome to switch, making alignment uncertain and time-consuming, which causes discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A switchable adapter with a manifold, air-tight component, and switching base featuring a pivot portion and connecting tubes with a 30-90 degree included angle, ensuring quick and secure switching without air leakage through an air-tight fit and guiding notches for precise alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the adapter is rotated 180 degrees to switch between access ports, then the other access port can align with the opening of the supporting component, but this causes time-consuming operation and patient discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitching capabilityVSAvoidswitching time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter is designed with asymmetric connecting tubes at angles of 45°, 90°, or 135° relative to the central axis, allowing switching between access ports by rotating only 45°-135° instead of 180°. This asymmetric angular arrangement reduces the rotation angle required for switching, thereby decreasing switching time and patient discomfort while maintaining the ability to alternate between different access ports.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If the adapter is rotated to switch access ports, then the other port can communicate with the internal channel, but exterior air may flow into the trachea through interstices causing infection risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess port switchingVSAvoidinfection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An air-tight component made of flexible material is disposed between the pivot portion and the switching base to seal interstices formed during rotation. This flexible sealing element prevents exterior air from leaking into the trachea through gaps between the adapter and supporting component, thereby eliminating infection risk while maintaining the switching functionality between access ports.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Device complexity

If no alignment structures are formed on the adapter and supporting component, then the structure remains simple, but medical personnel cannot ensure proper alignment of access ports

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidalignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Alignment structures including guiding wings and guiding slots are designed to replace manual alignment operations. The guiding wings on the adapter fit into corresponding guiding slots on the supporting component, automatically ensuring precise alignment of access ports with the opening when the adapter is installed or switched, thereby eliminating uncertainty about proper alignment without significantly increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2873433B1Switchable adapter for a suction tube

Publication Date: 2016.05.18 VITALTEC CORP

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AI summary

A switchable adapter for a suction tube has a manifold (1), a switching base (30) rotatably connected to a pivot portion (10) of the manifold (1), an air-tight component (2) mounted between the pivot portion (10) of the manifold (1) and the switching base (30), and a cover (4) mounted on an end of the pivot portion (10). The switching base (30) has two connecting tubes (311, 312) alternatively communicating with the manifold (1) by rotation of the switching base (30). Thus, the switchable adapter is switched to allow the suction tube to suck sputa out of a trachea of a patient.