Syringe Locator Prevents Infusion Device Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable drug infusion devices face issues with syringe disconnection due to insufficient locking mechanisms, particularly affecting elderly and ill users who may have difficulty coordinating movements, leading to improper syringe rotation and disconnection.
Innovation Solution
The syringe is equipped with at least one locator, such as stop teeth, that abuts against the ring nut of the infusion device, preventing excessive rotation and ensuring proper connection, which can be integrated during molding or applied subsequently, allowing use with existing devices without modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the syringe is equipped with tabs and a notch for engagement with the ring nut, then the syringe can be coupled to the infusion device, but the syringe can still rotate excessively and disconnect due to insufficient locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a locator on the syringe that pre-determines the correct rotational position before engagement. The locator abuts against the ring nut to define the proper orientation, ensuring the syringe is correctly positioned before the tabs engage with the slots in the ring nut, thereby preventing excessive rotation and disconnection
Solution Approach 2:
The locator acts as an intermediary element between the syringe and the ring nut. It mediates the engagement process by providing a reference surface that abuts against the ring nut, guiding the syringe into the correct position and preventing over-rotation, thus ensuring reliable connection without requiring complex locking mechanisms
2Reliability
If the syringe rotation is restricted to prevent disconnection, then connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing a single locator at a specific position on the syringe rather than symmetric locking mechanisms. This asymmetric locator abuts against the ring nut to define the correct rotational position, restricting rotation in one direction while allowing easy coupling in the other direction, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the locking function from a complex multi-component locking mechanism and implements it through a simple locator element on the syringe. This locator provides the necessary rotational restriction and connection stability without requiring additional complex parts, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a syringe (1) for drug infusion to a patient, the syringe being of a kind that can be used in combination with a drug infusion device (10) and can be coupled to said device through a rotary movement. According to the invention, the syringe (1) has at least one stop tooth (9) for limiting the rotation of said syringe (1) relative to said infusion device (10), thereby preventing any further rotation of the syringe (1) once it has been properly coupled with the infusion device (10) and thus avoiding the risk of disconnecting said syringe from said device. The present invention further concerns a drug infusion device (10) incorporating such a syringe (1).