Vial Cap Assembly With Needleless Valve Access and Needle Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional syringe/needle assemblies for extracting and administering medicine from vials are time-consuming and pose risks due to handling unprotected needles, leading to potential punctures.
Innovation Solution
A vial assembly with a cap assembly that includes a valve, seal, access member, and hollow housing, allowing needleless extraction and administration by using a flexible valve and threaded connection to a syringe, eliminating the need for a needle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a syringe/needle assembly is used for extraction and administration, then the contents can be extracted from the vial, but the assembly process is time-consuming and poses safety risks from needle handling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the needle component from the extraction system. The access member provides a needleless interface that connects directly to the vial contents through a valve mechanism, removing the harmful needle element while maintaining extraction functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member acts as an intermediary between the vial contents and the extraction device. It controls fluid flow without requiring a needle, enabling safe connection and extraction through a mediated interface that eliminates direct needle-puncture risks
2Ease of operation
If a needle is used for extraction, then contents can be accessed, but risks of unintentional needle punctures to people or surrounding objects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful needle puncture mechanism into a beneficial needleless valve-based system. The valve member's slit, which could be seen as a simple opening, becomes a controlled access point that provides extraction capability without the harmful puncture risks of traditional needles
3Productivity
If a traditional syringe/needle assembly is used, then extraction can be performed, but the process is subject to risks associated with handling unprotected needles
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful needle element is extracted from the system entirely. The access member and valve member combination provides a needleless extraction interface that maintains productivity while eliminating needle handling risks through complete removal of the dangerous component
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member is designed to be self-contained and self-regulating within the cap assembly. It automatically controls fluid flow without requiring external needle insertion, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for hazardous needle handling operations
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
Reduces assembly time and eliminates risks associated with needle handling by enabling quick, safe extraction and administration of contents from vials without needles.
Implementation Method 1
The valve member is compressible and includes a top portion with a slit located in the first opening of the connection portion when the valve member is inserted into the access member
Implementation Method 2
The valve member is compressible and includes a top portion with a slit located in the first opening of the connection portion when the valve member is inserted into the access member
Implementation Method 3
The connection portion protrudes from the access member and includes a male thread to engage with a female thread of the extraction device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A cap assembly includes an access member configured for attachment to a reservoir. The access member includes a first port that enables needleless extraction of contents from the reservoir, and at least one second port that enables needled extraction of the contents from the reservoir. The cap assembly further includes a valve member positioned in or configured to be positioned in the access member to i) enable needleless extraction of the contents of the reservoir through the first port when the first port is attached to a needless extraction device, ii) enable needled extraction of the contents through the at least one second port, and iii) seal the contents of the reservoir at the first port and at the at least one second port prior to and subsequent to the needleless or needled extraction.