Valve Connector Assembly for Secure Reconnectable Fluid Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical fluid connections in medical settings, such as IV lines, often dislodge unintentionally due to unexpected forces, leading to potential patient injury, infection, and exposure risks for caregivers.
Innovation Solution
A fluid connector system comprising a first valve assembly with a compressible valve and a second valve assembly with a valve plug, designed to resist disconnection by aligning and biasing components to maintain a fluid pathway, even under tension, and allowing safe reassembly after separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional fluid connector is used, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the connection reliability deteriorates due to unintended dislodgement
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs dynamic elements including a movable piston that can shift between sealed and open positions, and a resilient member that provides automatic return force. These dynamic components allow the connector to adapt to applied forces while maintaining reliability, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is pre-configured with the piston in a sealed position and the resilient member under initial tension before connection occurs. This preliminary action ensures that the connection is established in a secure state, preventing unintended dislodgement while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
2Reliability
If a secure connection mechanism is implemented, then the connection reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in disconnection and reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic piston mechanism allows the connector to transition automatically between secured and disconnected states based on applied force. When disconnection force is applied, the piston moves to open the fluid pathway, enabling easy separation while maintaining secure connection during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member provides automatic return force that self-secures the connection when components are brought together, eliminating the need for complex locking mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the applied connection force to activate the sealing action, improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a resilient member is used to maintain connection, then the connection reliability improves under tension, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member functions as a flexible elastic element that provides the necessary return force without requiring complex mechanical structures. This flexible component approach maintains reliability under tension while minimizing device complexity compared to rigid locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston acts as an intermediary element between the resilient member and the fluid pathway. It translates the elastic force into sealing action, allowing the resilient member to provide reliability benefits while the piston mediates the interaction to maintain overall system simplicity.
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 system effectively prevents unintended disconnection, reducing patient and caregiver injury risks while ensuring efficient and safe fluid transfer by maintaining a secure fluid pathway and allowing easy reconnection.
Implementation Method 1
the proximal end portion comprises a resilient member having an inner surface forming a recess
Implementation Method 2
when the first and second valve assemblies are coupled together, the second end of the body is positioned within the cavity of the housing such that the compressible valve is in a second position with the head biased toward the first end of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid connector systems including first and second valve assemblies couplable together to form a fluid pathway therethrough, and can resist fluid flow through the connector system when the valve assemblies are separated from each other, the first valve assembly including a compressible valve within a cavity and configured to surround a post forming a fluid passage, the compressible valve can resist fluid flow through the post in a first position and to reduce the resistance to fluid flow through the post in a second position, and the second valve assembly including a valve plug positioned within a bore and configured to obstruct a fluid passage, such that when the valve assemblies are coupled together the compressible valve is moved toward the second position and the post extends through the compressible valve and the valve plug to form the fluid pathway through the connector system.