Syringe Pump Collar Sealing for Moisture Ingress Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug infusion pump and syringe connections are not reliably watertight, leading to moisture penetration and potential damage to electromechanical components, especially during use in wet environments.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical collar with engaging elements and an annular flange on the pump, combined with a sealing gasket or material interference, creates a secure and removable connection between the syringe and pump, preventing moisture ingress while allowing for easy attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an expansible bellows is used to surround the sliding rod, then moisture penetration is prevented, but the bellows expansion creates vacuum conditions that suck air and moisture from the outside environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collar as an intermediary component between the bellows and the pump body. This collar includes a non-expansible portion that prevents moisture ingress while a communication channel allows pressure equalization, eliminating the vacuum effect that causes moisture suction. The collar acts as a mediator that combines sealing functionality with pressure balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible bellows made of elastomeric material that can expand and contract with the sliding rod movement. This flexible shell maintains the waterproof seal while allowing the rod to move freely. The bellows is combined with a rigid collar to provide both flexibility for movement and rigidity for pressure containment.
2Reliability
If the sliding rod is surrounded by an expansible bellows, then the pump is protected from moisture, but the bellows creates vacuum conditions during rod movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the sealing structure. The bellows is made flexible to allow expansion and contraction, while the collar is made rigid to maintain constant internal pressure. This local differentiation of material properties allows the system to simultaneously achieve moisture protection and prevent vacuum formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar serves as an intermediary structure that decouples the bellows expansion from the pump body. It allows the bellows to expand and contract locally while maintaining constant pressure in the pump interior through the communication channel, thus preventing vacuum conditions.
3Reliability
If a secure connection between syringe and pump is implemented, then reliability is improved, but the connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate functional components: the syringe body, the collar with engaging elements, and the bellows. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall assembly and disassembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the collar component: it provides structural support, creates the sealing interface with the syringe, and houses the communication channel for pressure equalization. This merging reduces the number of separate parts needed while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for connecting a syringe to an electromechanical pump for drug infusion is provided. The syringe comprises a syringe body having a first end for discharging a drug and a second end connected to the pump in a removable manner. An axially sliding plunger is housed in the syringe body for causing suction and injection of the drug through the first end. The pump comprises a pump body having a sliding rod that causes sliding of the plunger within the syringe body. The pump body has a collar axially extending around the sliding rod and provided with engaging elements. The syringe body has engaging elements arranged to cooperate with the engaging elements of the collar for firmly connecting the syringe to the pump. An annular flange extends radially around the syringe body. The flange cooperates with the collar to establish a tight sealing between the syringe body and the collar.