T-site Connector for Blood Sampling and IV Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical practices for blood sampling and fluid administration are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and painful for patients, especially when accessing small or damaged veins, leading to increased anxiety and material costs due to frequent needle sticks and difficulty in finding suitable veins.
Innovation Solution
A single intravenous T-site connector system that allows for both blood sampling and medication administration through a standard peripheral IV catheter, featuring a T-site body with a septum housing, tube bond stem, and an externally threaded cap, enabling secure attachment of needles and cannulas for efficient fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple needle sticks are performed for blood sampling, then blood samples can be collected, but patient pain and anxiety increase and procedural time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The T-site connector is designed as a multi-functional device that can be used for both blood sampling and fluid/medication administration through a single access point. This eliminates the need for multiple separate needle sticks, as the same catheter and connector system serves multiple clinical purposes throughout the patient's hospital stay.
Solution Approach 2:
The T-site connector is established during the initial IV catheter placement, creating a ready-to-use access point before blood sampling or medication administration is needed. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for subsequent needle sticks by providing pre-established access for all future procedures.
2Productivity
If multiple needle sticks are performed for blood sampling, then blood samples can be collected, but procedural time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The T-site connector consolidates multiple functions (blood sampling, fluid administration, medication delivery) into a single access point, eliminating the time required to perform multiple separate needle sticks and procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The T-site connector enables continuous access for multiple procedures without interruption. Once established, the same access point can be used repeatedly for blood draws, fluid administration, and medication delivery throughout the patient's hospital stay, maintaining continuous clinical utility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a single access point is used for multiple purposes, then patient discomfort is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The T-site connector is divided into distinct functional segments: a T-site body with a primary luer body for fluid administration, a tube bond stem for securing to the catheter, and a septum with a central opening for needleless access. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while working together as an integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The T-site connector acts as an intermediary device between the IV catheter and various medical devices (syringes, blood collection tubes, infusion pumps). It provides a standardized interface that simplifies connections while enabling multiple functions, reducing the complexity of managing multiple separate access points.
4Adaptability or versatility
If standard peripheral IV catheter is used, then fluid administration is possible, but blood sampling access is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The T-site connector transforms a standard peripheral IV catheter into a multi-functional access point by adding a septum with a central opening that accepts both needleless connectors for fluid administration and needle-based connectors for blood sampling, enabling one catheter to serve multiple purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A T-site connector has a T-site body, which includes a primary luer body and a tube bond stem, a septum, and an externally threaded cap. The T-site body includes a septum housing at a proximal end of the T-site body. The T-site body also includes the tube bond stem extending outwardly from the primary luer body. The internally threaded collar is secured such that the internally threaded collar is free-spinning to rotatably secure to a catheter. The septum has a slit for receipt of a cannula therethrough. The externally threaded cap is configured to secure to the septum housing of the T-site body with the septum therein. The externally threaded cap is configured to receive a proximal connection device thereon.