Valve Shut-off System for Medical Device Fill Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical device fill assemblies often lead to overfilling of reservoirs, resulting in medical agent waste and user exposure due to synchronized opening and closing of refill bottle and reservoir valves, which are controlled by the insertion state of the refill bottle neck.
Innovation Solution
A valve shut-off system with an overfill prevention apparatus that includes a slide pin and a rotating pin, adjustable via an actuator, allowing independent control of the refill bottle and reservoir valves to prevent overfilling by automatically disengaging the refill bottle valve once a predetermined amount of medical agent is reached, enabling gravity-assisted draining of residuals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If synchronized opening and closing of refill bottle and reservoir valves is used, then valve control simplicity is improved, but medical agent waste increases due to overfilling
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronized valve control is segmented into independent control mechanisms: a first valve control mechanism for the refill bottle valve and a second valve control mechanism for the reservoir valve. This allows independent timing of valve operations, enabling the refill bottle valve to close before the reservoir valve, thereby preventing overfilling and medical agent waste while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve control system transitions from static synchronized control to dynamic independent control. The first and second valve control mechanisms can operate at different times and under different conditions, with the refill bottle valve closing first to stop flow, followed by the reservoir valve closing after a predetermined time delay or when a minimum head space volume is reached, optimizing medical agent retention.
2Reliability
If independent control of refill bottle and reservoir valves is implemented, then overfilling prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve control mechanisms are designed to operate automatically without continuous user intervention. The first valve control mechanism automatically closes the refill bottle valve when the predetermined time elapses or when the minimum head space volume is reached, and the second valve control mechanism automatically closes the reservoir valve subsequently. This self-service operation ensures reliable overfill prevention while minimizing the need for complex user interfaces or additional control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor the filling process. Sensors detect the volume of medical agent in the reservoir and the timing of valve operations, providing feedback to the control mechanisms. When the minimum head space volume is reached or the predetermined time elapses, the feedback triggers the first valve control mechanism to close the refill bottle valve, ensuring reliable overfill prevention through continuous monitoring and automatic response.
3Loss of substance
If minimum head space volume is maintained, then medical agent retention is improved, but reservoir capacity utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the head space volume parameter during operation. Initially, the reservoir is filled to maximize capacity utilization. When the predetermined time elapses or the minimum head space volume is reached, the first valve control mechanism closes the refill bottle valve, preventing further filling and maintaining the optimal head space volume. This parameter change ensures that the reservoir operates at maximum capacity during filling while maintaining adequate head space during storage to prevent overfilling and medical agent loss.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for a valve shut-off system of a medical device. In one embodiment, the valve shut-off system of the medical device includes a first pin movable between a first position where a valve is opened and a second position where the valve is closed, the first pin including a slot, and a second pin having a mating geometry with the slot of the first pin, the second pin adjustable between a locked position that holds the first pin in the first position and an unlocked position that enables movement of the first pin between the first position and the second position.