Tactile Fluid Connector Latch for Secure, Easy Infusion Set Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion devices face challenges in balancing the force required to disconnect tubing without pulling the catheter from the skin, ensuring secure retention, and facilitating easy connection and disconnection, particularly for users with reduced tactile sensation.
Innovation Solution
A fluid connector with a housing featuring a tactile feature centered about the cannula axis to aid alignment and a latching mechanism with displaceable arms and activation levers, including lateral tactile features to prevent slippage, making connection and disconnection easier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the retention force is increased to secure the infusion components, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism uses displaceable arms that can dynamically transition between locked and unlocked states. The arms are biased by springs to engage with the base, providing secure retention, but can be easily displaced by user actuation to allow disconnection. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between strong retention and easy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into separate functional components: a housing with cannula, displaceable latching arms, and activation levers. This segmentation allows the retention function (latching arms) to be independently optimized from the operation function (activation levers with tactile features), enabling both strong retention and ease of use.
2Reliability
If the separation force is increased to prevent accidental disconnection, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The activation mechanism operates in a different dimensional space than the retention mechanism. The tactile features on the activation levers provide a mechanical advantage and directional guidance, allowing users to apply force in a specific direction (pressing the lever) that translates into sufficient separation force to overcome the latching retention, while the latching arms themselves maintain strong retention in the normal operational dimension.
3Device complexity
If the fluid connector design is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing includes an asymmetric flattened portion with a tactile feature centered about the longitudinal axis of the cannula. This asymmetric geometry provides tactile feedback and visual alignment cues that guide users in properly orienting and connecting the connector, improving ease of operation without adding complex mechanical alignment mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid connector for use with an infusion set. The fluid connector includes a housing having a cannula integral with and extending distally from a proximal interior surface of the housing. A proximal exterior surface of the housing has a portion with a tactile feature centered about a longitudinal axis of the cannula to aid a user in connecting the fluid connector with an infusion set base.