Switchable Adapter for Suction Tube with Sealing Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suction tube adapters risk patient infection due to air leakage and are cumbersome to switch, lacking alignment structures to ensure proper port alignment with the supporting component.
Innovation Solution
A switchable adapter with a manifold, air-tight component, and switching base that includes a pivot portion with a side recess and mounting hole, and arced sidewall with connecting tubes, allowing for a 30-90 degree included angle for convenient rotation and preventing air leakage through tight fitting components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering 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 consumption and patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is designed with asymmetric port arrangement where the two access ports are positioned at different angles relative to the rotation axis. Specifically, the first access port is initially aligned with the opening, and the second access port is positioned at an angle that requires only partial rotation (not 180 degrees) to align with the opening, thereby reducing rotation time and patient discomfort while maintaining switching functionality
2Adaptability or versatility
If the adapter is rotated to switch between access ports, then the other access port can align with the opening of the supporting component, but exterior air may flow into the trachea through interstices
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane is incorporated into the adapter design that can dynamically seal the passage between the access ports and the supporting component opening. When the first access port is aligned with the opening, the membrane seals off the second access port pathway. When rotated to align the second access port, the membrane seals off the first access port pathway. This flexible sealing mechanism prevents exterior air from leaking into the trachea through interstices during rotation and operation, thereby eliminating infection risk while maintaining port switching capability
3Device complexity
If no alignment structures are formed on the adapter and supporting component, then the structure is simpler, but medical personnel cannot ensure proper alignment of access ports
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment structures are incorporated into the adapter design that include visual indicators (such as colored marks or transparent alignment windows) that change appearance or become visible when the access ports are properly aligned with the supporting component opening. These alignment structures provide immediate visual feedback to medical personnel, ensuring correct positioning without requiring complex mechanical alignment mechanisms, thus maintaining relative structural simplicity while achieving precise alignment
Data Source
AI summary
A switchable adapter for a suction tube has a manifold, a switching base rotatably connected to a pivot portion of the manifold, an air-tight component mounted between the pivot portion of the manifold and the switching base, and a cover mounted on an end of the pivot portion. The switching base has two connecting tubes. When the switching base pivots relative to the pivot portion of the manifold, the connecting tubes alternatively communicate with the manifold by rotation of the switching base. Thus, the switchable adapter is switched to allow the suction tube to suck sputa out of a trachea of a patient.