Valve Elastic Component Fixing via Wedge Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure-activated safety valves in medical devices like PICCs and dialysis catheters face challenges in maintaining the elastic component in place during high pressure and flow while ensuring desired flow control characteristics, particularly in preventing leakage when pressure drops below a threshold.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a flexible member with a slit, housed between two contacting surfaces with a relief area and protrusion, which pinches the flexible member to maintain its position, allowing fluid transfer only when pressure exceeds a predetermined magnitude, and resealing when pressure falls below it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flexible member is secured tightly between contacting surfaces to maintain position during high pressure, then reliability improves, but the flow control characteristics and sealing ability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The contacting surfaces are divided into distinct functional zones: a central contact area that secures the flexible member during high pressure, and a relief area that allows controlled displacement during low pressure. This segmentation enables the single component to achieve both tight securing and proper sealing at different operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the flexible member to dynamically transition between two states: firmly secured against the central contacting surface during high pressure to maintain position stability, and allowed to displace into the relief area during low pressure to achieve proper sealing. The system adapts its constraint level based on operating conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the flexible member is allowed to move freely to maintain flow control, then ease of operation improves, but reliability under high pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The relief area is pre-configured as an empty space ready to receive the flexible member when pressure drops. This preliminary preparation ensures that when low pressure occurs, the flexible member can immediately displace into the relief area to achieve sealing without obstruction, maintaining flow control characteristics.
3Reliability
If the contacting surface area is increased to improve sealing, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the contacting surface area, the design applies different surface characteristics to different locations: a central contact area for securing the flexible member and a relief area for allowing displacement. This localized differentiation achieves reliable sealing without adding overall structural complexity.
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
Effectively controls fluid flow by maintaining the flexible member in place, ensuring reliable sealing and flow management in medical devices, preventing leakage and maintaining desired flow characteristics across varying pressures.
Implementation Method 1
the protrusion bending a peripheral portion of the flexible member about a radially outer edge of the first contacting surface into the relief area to maintain the flexible member at a desired position
Implementation Method 2
when subject to a fluid pressure of at least a predetermined magnitude, the slit of the flexible member opens to permit fluid transfer between the first and second lumens
Implementation Method 3
when subject to a fluid pressure less than the predetermined magnitude, the slit of the flexible member remains closed preventing fluid transfer between the first and second lumens
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling fluid flow to provide long-term access to the vascular system, and methods of making the same, are disclosed. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe a wedge or other similarly shaped geometrical features for fixing an elastic component and controlling an internal stress of the elastic component.