Tracheal Cannula Connector with Lever-Latch Force Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracheal cannula attachments require high and difficult-to-control forces for disconnection, posing a risk to patients due to potential unwanted exertion of force on the cannula.
Innovation Solution
The attachment design features a force application area and latching formation situated axially apart, allowing for displacement of the latching formation with a lesser and more controllable force by utilizing a support section that is either a single-arm or dual-arm lever, connected to the main component body, facilitating easy connection and disconnection without overlapping with the tracheal cannula components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the force application area is positioned within the coupling area (as in prior art), then the entire coupling area must be deformed for disconnection, but this requires high and difficult-to-control forces that pose a risk to patients
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is segmented by positioning the force application area separately from the coupling area. The support section acts as a distinct structural element that transmits force from the force application area to the latching formation, allowing localized deformation rather than requiring deformation of the entire coupling area. This segmentation enables controlled disconnection forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The support section serves as an intermediary element between the force application area and the latching formation. It transmits the applied force to the latching formation while isolating the coupling area from direct deformation, allowing force application without compromising the integrity or requiring deformation of the coupling area itself.
2Ease of operation
If the force application area is positioned within the coupling area, then the latching formation can be displaced, but the deformation of the entire coupling area creates unwanted reactive forces on the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The force application area is extracted from the coupling area and positioned at a different location on the attachment. This separation allows the latching formation to be displaced for disconnection without requiring deformation of the coupling area, thereby eliminating the generation of unwanted reactive forces that would otherwise be transmitted to the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The support section is designed with specific local mechanical properties that allow it to deform and transmit force from the force application area to the latching formation while remaining structurally distinct from the coupling area. This local quality enables targeted force transmission without affecting the coupling area's integrity or generating harmful reactive forces.
3Ease of repair
If the coupling area is deformed for attachment disconnection, then the latching formation can be released, but high forces are required that are difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The support section is designed with dynamic mechanical properties that allow it to deform elastically under applied force, transmitting the force to the latching formation for release. This dynamic behavior enables disconnection with controlled, lower forces compared to deforming the entire rigid coupling area, while still achieving reliable latching formation displacement.
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
Enables patient-friendly connection and disconnection of the tracheal cannula attachment with reduced risk of injury by allowing precise control of the disconnection force, ensuring safe and secure attachment operation.
Implementation Method 1
the support section is displaceable between two positions of different radial distance of the latching formation situated on the support section from the coupling axis
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment for a tracheal cannula that surrounds a cavity and is open in coupling and orifice areas, the attachment having in the coupling area a latching formation for the releasable connection to a mating latching formation of the tracheal cannula, the coupling area surrounding a section of the cavity, the section of the cavity surrounded by the coupling area being centrally penetrated by a virtual coupling axis, the coupling area having a support section, on which the latching formation and a force application area are situated the support section is displaceable between two positions of different radial distance of the latching formation situated on the support section from the coupling axis; the force application area and the latching formation displaceable by an exertion of force on the force application area of the same support section are situated along the coupling axis at an axial distance from each other.