Vented Needle Hub Assembly for Self-Priming Infusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion systems face challenges in effectively purging air or sterile gas, leading to messy insertions, discomfort, potential skin irritation, and loss of treatment liquid, especially in subcutaneous and intravenous therapies, due to the complexity of ensuring proper dosage and needle adhesion.
Innovation Solution
A vented needle hub with a porous plug that allows gas to escape while blocking liquid, integrated with a flexible tubing system and autoinjector, enabling self-priming by distinguishing between air and liquid flow resistances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual purging of air is performed by running liquid through the system, then air is removed from the infusion line, but liquid is wasted and skin adhesion becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air venting function from the liquid flow path by providing a separate vent port that allows air to escape directly to the atmosphere without requiring liquid to flow through the entire system. The vent port is positioned to allow air bubbles to rise and exit while the liquid medication remains in the reservoir for subsequent administration.
Solution Approach 2:
The infusion system is segmented into separate functional zones: an air venting zone through the vent port, a liquid storage zone in the reservoir, and a delivery zone through the needle. This segmentation allows air to be removed independently from the liquid medication without contaminating or wasting the treatment substance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple needles are used in subcutaneous infusion, then therapy coverage is improved, but air purging complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent port design provides a universal air removal mechanism that functions identically regardless of how many needles are attached to the reservoir. Each needle assembly has its own vent port, allowing independent air purging for each injection site without requiring complex centralized control or additional purging procedures.
3Productivity
If air is not properly purged from the system, then treatment liquid can be administered, but patient discomfort and skin irritation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The vent port enables preliminary air removal action to be performed before liquid administration begins. By allowing air to escape through the vent during the initial phase of liquid flow, the system ensures that air bubbles are eliminated from the needle prior to patient contact, preventing discomfort and skin irritation while maintaining treatment productivity.
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 ensures efficient air removal without manual priming, preventing liquid waste, skin irritation, and discomfort, while maintaining proper dosage and needle adhesion during infusion.
Implementation Method 1
a porous plug disposed within each at least one vent adjacent to the fluid passageway, the porous plug structured and arranged to allow gas to pass while blocking liquid
Implementation Method 2
the porous plug structured and arranged to allow gas to pass while blocking liquid, gas permitted to pass from the fluid passageway through the porous plug and out the at least one vent
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vented needle hub assembly for infusion of a liquid into subcutaneous tissue. More specifically, the vented needle hub assembly is provided by a needle hub having an inlet side and an outlet side and a fluid passageway therebetween; an infusion needle in fluid contact with the fluid passageway and extending from the outlet side; a flexible tubing having a first end joined to the inlet side in fluid contact with the fluid passageway, and a second end; at least one vent disposed in a sidewall of the needle hub, the vent in fluid contact with the fluid passageway; and a porous plug disposed within each at least one vent adjacent to the fluid passageway, the porous plug structured and arranged to distinguish gas from liquid, gas permitted to pass from the fluid passageway through the porous plug and out the at least one vent; and a reservoir of liquid provided as an autoinjector, the second end of the flexible tubing interconnecting the reservoir of liquid to the inlet side for fluid communication from the reservoir to the needle hub. An associated method of use is provided as well.