Syringe Filling with Buffer Member for Air Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
When administering liquid medication, particularly through syringes with small diameters, air often becomes trapped, which is difficult to remove, especially with viscous liquids, leading to inefficiencies and potential contamination risks due to the use of filter needles and rubber stoppers in existing methods.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing a buffer member with an intermediate volume to draw and store liquid, allowing air to be vented out, and then transferring the liquid to a syringe with a non-filter needle, ensuring the syringe is filled without trapped air, using a kit of parts that includes a syringe, buffer member, and optional filter needle for filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter needle is used to draw liquid medication into a syringe, then contaminants are filtered out, but air is drawn into the syringe along with the liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The filling process is divided into two distinct stages: first using a filter needle to draw liquid through filtration, then using a non-filter needle to top up the syringe. This segmentation allows air removal during the first stage without compromising the filtration benefit, and enables precise filling in the second stage without drawing additional air.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter needle is used in advance to draw the liquid medication into the syringe barrel, establishing the liquid column before the non-filter needle is attached. This preliminary action ensures filtration occurs before any potential air introduction, and sets up the condition for subsequent air-free filling.
2Loss of substance
If the syringe diameter is small to reduce waste, then expensive liquid is conserved, but air becomes trapped more easily
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static single-needle approach to a dynamic two-needle sequence. The filter needle establishes liquid flow and pressure, then the non-filter needle dynamically takes over for precise topping up. This dynamic approach adapts to the small syringe geometry, using the initial liquid column to prevent air trapping during the secondary filling phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter needle acts as an intermediary that first establishes liquid presence in the syringe, creating a liquid seal that prevents air from being drawn in during subsequent operations. This intermediary action is crucial for small syringes where the liquid column is short and air trapping is more likely.
3Productivity
If a non-filter needle is used to administer medication, then administration is efficient, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle function is segmented into two specialized components: a filter needle for safe liquid extraction and a non-filter needle for efficient administration. This segmentation allows each needle to be optimized for its specific purpose while maintaining overall safety through the sequential process.
Solution Approach 2:
Filtration is performed in advance during the liquid drawing phase, removing contaminants before the medication is transferred to the syringe for administration. This preliminary filtration ensures that subsequent efficient administration with a non-filter needle does not compromise patient safety.
4Reliability
If air is removed by pointing syringe upwards and tapping, then air bubbles are eliminated, but liquid may be wasted
Solution Approach 1:
Air is removed during the initial filter needle filling phase before the precise non-filter needle topping up begins. The filter needle draws liquid past any air bubbles, and the subsequent non-filter needle addition occurs after the liquid column is established, eliminating the need for post-filling air removal that would waste liquid.
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
Effectively prevents air from becoming trapped in syringes, ensuring efficient filling and reducing contamination risks by using a buffer member to manage air and fluid transfer, especially beneficial for expensive or rare liquids.
Implementation Method 1
a filter needle may be used for drawing up the medication from the glass ampoule or vial into the syringe. The filter needle for example comprises a 5 micron filter, which catches the glass or rubber particles as the liquid medication is pulled through it.
Implementation Method 2
A method and device utilizing a buffer member with an intermediate volume to draw and store liquid, allowing air to be vented out, and then transferring the liquid to a syringe with a non-filter needle, ensuring the syringe is filled without trapped air.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided for filling one or more syringes with a liquid, essentially without air being trapped with the liquid in the one or more syringes. A temporary storage volume—a buffer member—is used to temporarily hold the liquid and allow air to be removed from the liquid in the syringe. The size and/or shape of the temporary storage volume—also referred to as intermediate volume—allows the air to be removed more easily compared to the size and/or shape of a main volume of the one or more syringes.