Syringe Adapter With Axial-Radial Interference Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Healthcare clinicians are at risk of contamination from repeated exposure to medical fluids and contaminants during drug preparation and administration due to the need for multiple connections between containers, leading to unacceptably high concentrations of medicaments or contaminants in their blood or body tissue.
Innovation Solution
A syringe adapter with a housing formed from two connected portions, featuring axial and radial interference to securely lock the portions together, and a protective cap that allows disinfection without removal, ensuring closed system transfer and reducing exposure to contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple connections between containers are performed during drug preparation, then drug transfer and administration can be completed, but healthcare clinicians are exposed to high concentrations of contaminants and medicaments
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is divided into two separate portions that can be connected together, allowing the system to maintain a closed configuration during drug transfer while enabling disconnection for disinfection purposes. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing efficient drug transfer through the closed system while providing opportunities to break the connection for contamination control.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter serves as an intermediary device between the syringe and fluid container, creating a closed system that prevents direct exposure to contaminants. The adapter housing with its two connected portions acts as a mediator that maintains the barrier between the clinician and harmful substances during the transfer process.
2Reliability
If adapters are disconnected for disinfection between connections, then contamination risk is reduced, but the number of disconnection and reconnection steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two portions of the adapter housing are connected together to form a single integrated adapter assembly that can be disinfected as one unit. This merging reduces the number of separate components that need to be handled individually during disconnection and reconnection, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining contamination prevention capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it maintains a closed system during drug transfer, allows for disconnection and reconnection, and provides a structure that can be disinfected. The two portions connected together create a versatile device that handles both the transfer efficiency and contamination prevention requirements through its multi-functional design.
3Ease of manufacture
If the adapter housing is formed from a single piece, then manufacturing is simpler, but disinfection access and structural flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into two portions that can be connected together, providing structural flexibility that allows the adapter to be disassembled for thorough disinfection. This segmentation enables better access to internal surfaces during cleaning while still allowing the portions to be connected to form a complete housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The two portions of the housing are designed to fit together in a nested configuration, with one portion inserted into or attached to the other. This nested arrangement allows the housing to maintain a compact, simple external form factor while enabling disassembly for disinfection access, effectively combining manufacturing simplicity with operational flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A syringe adapter is provided. The adapter includes a housing having a first end and a second end positioned opposite the first end. The housing may include a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion. The first end of the housing can include a connector configured to be secured to a syringe barrel. The adapter also includes a cannula positioned within the housing and a seal arrangement including a membrane positioned within the housing and movable within the housing. The first portion of the housing can be connected to the second portion via axial and radial interference between the first portion and the second portion of the housing.