Anesthesia Vaporizer Latch Mechanism With Insertion Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anesthesia machines lack a reliable and power-independent mechanism for securely engaging and disengaging vaporizers, with current systems often requiring electrical power for proper engagement and lacking clear indicators of full insertion.
Innovation Solution
An engagement mechanism featuring a wedge, latch, and button system that mechanically ensures secure vaporizer attachment and disattachment, with a button position indicator showing full insertion, and a spring mechanism for power-independent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical engagement mechanism is used, then power independence is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism is divided into distinct functional components: a button for user input, a wedge for force transformation, and a latch for securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system reliability without requiring electrical power.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical engagement mechanism is self-actuating through the interaction of the button, wedge, and latch components. When the button is pressed, it automatically triggers the wedge to move the latch into the engaged position, and when the button is released, the spring returns the wedge to disengage the latch. This self-service capability eliminates the need for electrical power while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a secure engagement mechanism is implemented, then vaporizer attachment reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism transitions between two dynamic states: engaged and disengaged. The button, wedge, and latch components move dynamically between positions based on user input. When the button is pressed, the latch moves from the disengaged to the engaged state, securing the vaporizer. When released, it transitions back to disengaged, allowing removal. This dynamic behavior provides both security and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge acts as an intermediary component between the button and the latch. When the button is pressed, the wedge transforms the linear motion into a lateral motion that moves the latch into the engaged position. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the user's interaction while ensuring secure engagement, as the user only needs to press the button without directly manipulating the latch.
3Loss of information
If a button position indicator is added, then user confirmation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The button position indicator utilizes visual feedback through the button's position relative to the housing. When the vaporizer is fully inserted, the button is pushed inward and becomes flush with the housing surface, providing a clear visual indication of proper engagement. This simple visual change eliminates the need for complex indicator mechanisms while ensuring users have confirmation of correct insertion.
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
Provides secure, power-independent engagement and disengagement of vaporizers, ensuring proper insertion and offering a visual indicator for user confirmation, enhancing safety and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a button return spring interposed between the button and a housing of the anesthesia machine, wherein the button return spring causes the button and the wedge to move outwardly
Implementation Method 2
a latch compression spring configured to exert a force on the latch thereby causing the engagement portion of the latch to exert a force downwardly
Implementation Method 3
a wedge including at least one upwardly-facing sloped region and at least one downwardly-facing sloped region
Data Source
AI summary
An anesthesia machine includes an interface for receiving a vaporizer, a housing having an outer surface, a button having an outer surface, and configured to receive an engagement force from a user, and a latch including an engagement portion, and configured to selectively secure the vaporizer to the anesthesia machine via the engagement portion according to a position of the button, wherein a positional relationship between the outer surface of the button with the outer surface of the housing indicates whether or not the vaporizer is correctly received by the interface of the anesthesia machine