Waste Tube Cartridge With Plunger Ejection for Phlebotomy Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high failure rate of waste tubes during phlebotomy procedures due to misalignment and the need for extra care, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency in blood draw operations.
Innovation Solution
A T-shaped cartridge with a tubular central portion and gripping flanges that securely holds the waste tube, combined with a plunger mechanism for touchless ejection, ensuring proper alignment and easy attachment to the hub, reducing the risk of breakage and improving operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the waste tube is manually inserted into the hub after needle insertion, then the phlebotomist can complete the blood draw procedure, but the misalignment between the aperture and needle may cause waste tube breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The waste tube is pre-attached to the cartridge before the blood draw procedure begins. The cartridge is designed with a cavity that receives and secures the waste tube in advance, ensuring proper alignment is established before the critical needle insertion step. This preliminary attachment eliminates the risk of misalignment during the actual connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge serves as an intermediary device between the waste tube and the hub. It provides a secure holding structure with a cavity that receives the waste tube and positions it correctly. The cartridge acts as a mediator that ensures proper alignment and protection during the blood draw procedure, preventing direct manual handling that causes misalignment.
2Reliability
If the phlebotomist takes extra care to correctly attach the waste tube, then the breakage risk is reduced, but the total time of each blood draw operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waste tube is pre-attached to the cartridge before the blood draw procedure begins. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment is established in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming careful adjustments during the actual procedure. The pre-attachment process allows for proper positioning without rushing, while the subsequent procedure proceeds efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is designed with a cavity that automatically secures the waste tube through friction fit or mechanical engagement. Once the waste tube is inserted into the cartridge cavity, it self-aligns and secures itself without requiring additional manual adjustment or careful positioning by the phlebotomist. This self-service mechanism eliminates time-consuming manual alignment steps.
3Productivity
If the waste tube is held manually during the blood draw, then the procedure can be completed, but the misalignment may cause the needle to puncture the glass side of the waste tube
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge serves as an intermediary device that holds the waste tube securely in place during the blood draw procedure. The cartridge cavity provides a protected environment that maintains proper alignment between the waste tube aperture and the needle. This intermediary structure prevents direct manual handling that could cause misalignment and subsequent glass puncture.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge provides protective support for the waste tube before the critical needle insertion occurs. The cavity structure is designed to cushion and protect the glass waste tube from external forces and misalignment during the procedure. This beforehand protection ensures that even if minor movements occur, the waste tube remains protected from puncture.
4Productivity
If the waste tube is replaced rather than reused due to breakage, then the supply cost increases, but the procedure can be completed with a new tube
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adopts a disposable cartridge design that is inexpensive and can be discarded after a single use. The cartridge, rather than the expensive glass waste tube, is designed as a single-use component. This allows the valuable waste tube to be protected and potentially reused, while the cheap cartridge absorbs the disposal cost, reducing overall supply expenses.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge acts as a sacrificial intermediary that protects the valuable waste tube. By designing the cartridge as a disposable component rather than reusing it, the system eliminates the need to replace expensive glass waste tubes due to breakage. The cheap cartridge absorbs the replacement cost, preserving the expensive waste tube for potential reuse or proper disposal.
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge is designed to secure and position a waste tube during a blood draw operation. The cartridge includes a T-shaped body with a tubular central portion and one or more gripping flanges. The tubular central portion has an open first end and an elongated cavity elongated cavity that is sized and shaped to receive the waste tube through the open first end. The one or more gripping flanges are attached to a second end of the tubular central portion opposite the first end and extend out away from the tubular central portion in a plane substantially perpendicular to elongated cavity. The cartridge further includes a plunger mechanism affixed to the T-shaped body. The plunger mechanism includes a stem adapted to slide into the cavity through the second end of tubular central portion responsive to an applied external force to eject the waste tube from the cavity through the open first end of the cavity.