Syringe Tip Drip Flanges Capillary Fluid Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Syringe injection systems face issues with fluid leakage and spillage during filling and purging processes, leading to contamination and inefficiency, particularly with sticky contrast media, due to the inability to effectively manage fluid flow and retention at the tip and connections.
Innovation Solution
A syringe tip with tiered drip flanges arranged to facilitate fluid wicking by capillary action, which retains excess fluid between the flanges through surface tension and capillary forces, preventing drips and spills by directing fluid into a drip cup for collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a direct vented spike is used to pierce the bottle, then fluid delivery is enabled, but fluid drips and spills onto the syringe tip
Solution Approach 1:
The tip is divided into multiple functional zones: an upper drip flange, a lower drip flange, and a collection cup. This segmentation allows the tip to handle fluid at multiple levels, capturing drips before they reach the syringe body.
Solution Approach 2:
The drip flanges act as intermediary structures between the fluid delivery path and the syringe body. They intercept fluid droplets and channel them into the collection cup, preventing direct contact with the syringe.
2Productivity
If positive pressure is applied to the bottle, then fluid flow is enhanced, but fluid sprays and drips onto the syringe
Solution Approach 1:
The drip flanges and collection cup are positioned to preemptively intercept fluid before it can spray onto the syringe. The structure anticipates the harmful effect and provides a containment path before the fluid reaches critical areas.
3Ease of operation
If the fill tube is used to load contrast fluid, then fluid loading is achieved, but fluid drips onto the floor or injector
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful dripping function is extracted from the fill tube operation and relocated to the tip structure. The drip flanges and collection cup capture fluid that would otherwise drip from the fill tube, separating the loading function from the spillage problem.
4Adaptability or versatility
If contrast media is used, then imaging capability is provided, but the sticky fluid migrates to surfaces the operator touches
Solution Approach 1:
The drip flanges and collection cup create an intermediary barrier between the contrast media and the operator's hands. The sticky fluid is contained within the tip structure, preventing direct contact and migration to surfaces the operator touches.
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
The syringe tip effectively prevents fluid leakage and spillage by utilizing capillary action to retain fluid between the tiered flanges, maintaining cleanliness and operational efficiency during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of tiered drip flanges arranged to facilitate wicking fluid by capillary action in a narrow circumferential space defined between any two tiers of the tiered drip flanges
Implementation Method 2
retaining the fluid between the tiered drip flanges by the surface tension formed between the tiered drip flanges
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Provided is a syringe system that includes a syringe and a medical connector sized and configured to engage the distal tip of the syringe and fluidly couple to an interior of the syringe or sized and configured to fluidly connect the interior of the syringe with a flexible tube assembly. The syringe comprising a body defining a cylindrical fluid chamber having a distal end and a proximal end, a tapered portion extending from the distal end of the cylindrical fluid chamber and a distal tip extending from the tapered portion. The distal tip defines an orifice. A fluid wicking tip is included at the distal end of the body having a plurality of drip flanges extending radially from the distal tip to wick fluid into narrow spaces defined between any two adjacent drip flanges.