Syringe Adaptor Septum Locking for Needle-Safe Fluid Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Exposure of the distal end of a needle during fluid transfer between a syringe and a container poses a hazard due to potential leakage of fluid.
Innovation Solution
A syringe adaptor and fluid-port adaptor system with a syringe adaptor comprising a body lumen with a variable radius and a septum housing with radially-flexible legs that lock onto circumferential ridges of the fluid-port adaptor, ensuring the needle remains safely contained during transfer and withdrawal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a needle is exposed during fluid transfer, then fluid transfer efficiency is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential leakage and exposure hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a syringe adaptor as an intermediary device between the needle and the fluid port. The adaptor includes a body with a lumen that receives the needle, and a septum that seals around the needle while allowing fluid transfer. This intermediary structure enables the needle to remain covered and safe during fluid transfer operations while maintaining efficient fluid flow through the adaptor's lumen.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the needle is received within the adaptor body lumen, and the septum is positioned within the adaptor to seal around the needle. The radially-flexible legs with teeth nest within grooves on the fluid port adaptor. This nesting arrangement allows the needle to be contained and protected within the adaptor structure during fluid transfer, eliminating exposure hazards while maintaining transfer efficiency.
2Reliability
If a secure connection mechanism is added to prevent needle exposure, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic elements including radially-flexible legs that can bend and spring-loaded mechanisms that automatically engage and disengage. The legs are configured to flex radially inward to engage with the fluid port adaptor and spring outward to release it. This dynamic design provides secure automatic engagement for safety while allowing simple manual operation for connection and disconnection, balancing reliability with ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded radially-flexible legs provide self-service functionality by automatically engaging with the fluid port adaptor when brought together and automatically disengaging when pulled apart. The spring mechanism stores and releases energy to maintain the locked position during use and to facilitate easy release, eliminating the need for complex manual locking or unlocking mechanisms.
3Reliability
If radially-flexible legs with teeth are used to lock onto ridges, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the form of elastic deformation of the radially-flexible legs. The legs are designed to flex radially inward during engagement, allowing the teeth to pass over the circumferential ridges, and then spring radially outward to lock onto the ridges. This elastic parameter change provides a tolerance buffer that accommodates variations in manufacturing precision while maintaining reliable locking engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs radially-flexible legs that act as flexible structural elements. These legs can bend and deform elastically to engage with the rigid circumferential ridges on the fluid port adaptor. The flexibility of the legs compensates for minor misalignments and manufacturing tolerances, ensuring reliable engagement without requiring extremely precise manufacturing of either the ridges or the teeth.
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
Prevents exposure of the needle end by maintaining an airtight seal and preventing fluid leakage, ensuring safe and efficient fluid transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of distally-extending, radially-flexible legs, each of the legs being shaped to define a series of teeth that protrude radially inward, and being configured to flex radially inward upon entering the more proximal portion of the body lumen
Implementation Method 2
The spring is configured to bias the septum housing distally so as to facilitate locking of the teeth onto the ridges
Implementation Method 3
maintaining an airtight seal and preventing fluid leakage, ensuring safe and efficient fluid transfer
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A syringe adaptor (20) includes a body (22), shaped to define a body lumen, a syringe fitting (30) at a proximal end of the body, configured to connect to a distal end of a syringe, a needle (32) extending distally from the syringe fitting into the body lumen, a septum housing (24), and an elastomeric septum (26) mounted inside the septum housing. The septum includes a proximal face (54), shaped to define an aperture (56) having an aperture diameter (d1), and a distal face (58). The septum is shaped to define a cavity (62), joined to the aperture, having a cavity diameter (d2) that is larger than the aperture diameter. The septum housing is configured to slide proximally within the body lumen such that a distal end of the needle contained in the cavity passes through the distal face of the septum. Other embodiments are also described.