Tailless Needleless Valve with Low-Force Compression Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional needleless valve systems with tails require additional force and fluid for compression and priming, leading to increased material costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A tail-less valve system with a continuous top surface and asymmetric compression feature that reduces material usage and fluid requirements, featuring a through hole for controlled compression and a retaining flange for housing integration, allowing for efficient fluid flow without a slit or split septum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional valve with a tail is used, then the valve can be retained in the housing, but additional force and fluid are required for compression and priming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tail portion from the valve body, extracting the problematic element that required additional force for compression. The retaining flange replaces the tail's retention function, achieving reliable valve retention without the need for a tail that would require additional compression force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the valve by eliminating the tail and introducing a retaining flange with specific dimensional relationships (flange diameter greater than valve body diameter, flange thickness controlling retention). This parameter change reduces the force required for compression while maintaining reliable retention.
2Reliability
If a housing that encompasses the tail is used, then the valve can be retained, but additional fluid is required to prime and flush the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tail portion from the valve assembly, thereby removing the volume of housing that would be required to accommodate it. This elimination directly reduces the amount of priming and flushing fluid needed, as the housing no longer needs to encompass a tail extension.
3Reliability
If a conventional valve with a tail is used, then the valve can be retained in the housing, but the housing volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tail portion from the valve design, thereby eliminating the need for housing volume dedicated to accommodating the tail. The retaining flange provides an alternative retention mechanism that fits within a more compact housing envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a vertical tail extension (one-dimensional solution for retention) to a lateral retaining flange structure (two-dimensional solution). This dimensional change allows the valve to be retained within a smaller housing volume by utilizing the radial dimension rather than extending axially with a tail.
4Ease of manufacture
If a continuous top surface is used, then the valve can be easily sanitized, but the compression mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the slit or split septum from the top surface of the valve body, creating a continuous surface that is easier to sanitize. The compression complexity is managed through the asymmetric compression feature and through-hole geometry, which guide the compression action without requiring additional components.
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 tail-less design reduces manufacturing costs, minimizes fluid needed for priming, and lowers the housing volume, while ensuring effective sealing and easy sanitation, with reduced force required for deformation and efficient fluid flow.
Implementation Method 1
a compression feature configured to control how the body is compressed to allow fluid flow through the needleless valve system
Implementation Method 2
additional force is required to compress the tail
Implementation Method 3
When the luer is removed from the housing, the tail relaxes to its original position and urges the valve back into a sealed position
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A valve for a needleless valve system. The valve includes a body configured to be disposed in the needleless valve system and controlling fluid flow through the needleless valve system and wherein the body is tail-less. The body includes a continuous top surface, and a compression feature configured to control how the body is compressed to allow fluid flow through the needleless valve system.