Vacuum Tube Coupler With Clearing Valve for Blockage Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum system tubing solutions for medical procedures are prone to breakage during dynamic movements, leading to spillage of biological fluids and blockages, posing risks to medical professionals and patients, and requiring time-consuming replacements.
Innovation Solution
A tube connection kit with a female and male coupler system, including a clearing valve that opens only under fluid pressure, allowing for efficient clearing of blockages without disassembly, and featuring mushroom heads for easy assembly and a release button for quick disconnection, designed to withstand torsional strain and maintain fluid containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing tubing solutions are used in vacuum systems, then the system can perform surgical procedures, but the tubing breaks apart during rotation or twisting, causing fluid spillage and blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The male and female couplers are designed with dynamic connection features including tapered surfaces for self-aligning engagement, flexible sealing mechanisms, and torsion-resistant construction that allows the tubing to accommodate rotation and twisting without breaking apart, directly addressing the reliability issue during dynamic surgical procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The tubing system is segmented into modular male and female coupler components that can be independently optimized for specific functions (connection, sealing, clearing), allowing each segment to be designed to withstand specific stresses while maintaining overall system reliability and preventing fluid spillage
2Productivity
If tubing blockages occur during surgical procedures, then the procedure must be paused to replace tubes, but this causes time delays and increased exposure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The clearing valve is designed as a self-service feature integrated into the female coupler, allowing the surgical team to clear blockages directly through the existing tubing without disassembly or replacement. The valve can be activated to flush the lumen, restoring flow and maintaining surgical efficiency without time-consuming tube changes
Solution Approach 2:
The clearing valve is pre-positioned and pre-configured in the female coupler design, ready for immediate activation if blockages occur. This preliminary preparation ensures that clearing capability is always available without requiring additional components or time-consuming setup when blockages are encountered during surgery
3Ease of operation
If the clearing valve is always open, then blockages can be cleared easily, but biological fluids leak from the tube to the surrounding area
Solution Approach 1:
The clearing valve is designed as a dynamic component that transitions between closed (normal operation) and open (clearing mode) states. The valve mechanism includes actuation features that allow controlled opening only when needed for clearing blockages, maintaining fluid containment during normal surgery while enabling easy blockage removal when required
Solution Approach 2:
The clearing function is extracted as a separate, controlled valve mechanism within the female coupler, distinct from the main fluid pathway. This separation allows the clearing function to be activated independently without affecting normal fluid flow, enabling blockage clearing while preventing unintended fluid leakage to the surrounding area
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 kit ensures secure and efficient connection of vacuum system components, preventing spillage and blockages, reducing exposure risks, and allowing continuous operation in dynamic surgical environments without the need for frequent replacements.
Implementation Method 1
a clearing valve that conditionally and fluidly connects an exterior of the clearing valve to an interior of the female coupler
Implementation Method 2
A vacuum, e.g., from the vacuum source, is provided to the first tube or the vacuum applicator to remove a substance from an area, such as a biological fluid from an operation site
Data Source
AI summary
A tube connection kit for a vacuum system, and a method of clearing the vacuum system using the kit. The kit includes a female coupler and a male coupler. The male coupler includes a forward portion that connects to a first tube or a vacuum applicator, and a rearward portion that connects to a forward portion of the female coupler. A rearward portion of the female coupler connects to a second tube or a vacuum source. Interiors of the first tube or the vacuum applicator, the male coupler, the female coupler, and the second tube or the vacuum source are fluidly connected, such that a vacuum may be provided to the vacuum applicator. The female coupler includes a clearing valve that connects an exterior of the clearing valve to the interior of the female coupler, upon application of a fluid thereto, to allow clearing of the second tube.