Vent Device for Vascular Access Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing air embolisms in medical settings, such as during vascular access procedures, require practitioners to identify and manually remove air from infusion lines, which is time-consuming and inefficient, especially in emergency situations, and can lead to increased costs and waste.
Innovation Solution
A vent device comprising a valve opener, an engagement body, and a gas-permeable vent that moves from a non-venting to a venting condition to actively expel gas from the infusion line, ensuring the valve is not damaged during storage and can be easily deactivated after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If practitioners manually identify and remove air from infusion lines using syringes, then air embolisms can be treated, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The vent device is attached to the connector before air embolism occurs, and the valve opener is pre-positioned but not yet activated. This preliminary setup allows for rapid air venting when needed, eliminating the time-consuming manual identification and removal process while maintaining reliability for preventing air embolisms
2Object-generated harmful factors
If practitioners use syringes to aspirate trapped air, then air can be removed from the infusion line, but additional steps and practitioner time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The vent device combines the valve opener, engagement body, and gas-permeable vent into a single integrated unit that attaches to the connector. This merged design performs air venting through a single attachment action rather than requiring separate syringe connection and aspiration steps, reducing device complexity while effectively removing trapped air
Solution Approach 2:
The vent device enables self-service air venting by attaching directly to the connector and using the valve opener to automatically open the valve when activated. The gas-permeable vent automatically allows air to escape without requiring practitioner manipulation of syringes or needles, simplifying the process from multiple steps to a single activation action
3Reliability
If the valve opener is held in-register with the valve by the engagement body, then the valve is protected during storage, but the device must be activated to vent gas
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement body pre-positions the valve opener in-register with the valve during storage, protecting the valve from damage. When activation is needed, the valve opener is simply pushed distally to move from the held position to the venting condition, making the activation process simple and intuitive while maintaining valve integrity during storage
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement body is designed to be movable along the connector, allowing it to transition from a storage position where it holds the valve opener in-register to an activated position where it allows the valve opener to push the valve open. This dynamic design enables the system to adapt between protection mode and venting mode, balancing valve integrity during storage with ease of activation when needed
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 vent device efficiently and proactively removes air from vascular access assemblies, reducing the risk of air embolisms and minimizing the time and resources required for air removal, while maintaining the integrity of the valve during storage.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-permeable vent at least in the valve opener
Implementation Method 2
The gas-permeable vent may comprise a semipermeable material
Data Source
AI summary
Intravenous sets, port assemblies, and vascular access assemblies can include a vent device for venting gas trapped therein. The vent device can connect to a connector, such as a needleless port having a valve, and the connector connected to an adapter. The vent device can have a valve opener, an engagement body, and a gas-permeable vent incorporated with the valve opener. In use, the valve opener is moveable from an initial non-venting condition, in which the valve opener does not actuate the valve and is held in-register with the valve by the engagement body, to a venting condition, in which the valve opener is actuated to open the valve to allow gas to pass from within the system the connector is connected to then flow out through the gas-permeable vent.