Wiping Tip Segmented Design for Connector Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wiping tips for cleaning male connectors used in enteral nutrition struggle to effectively remove liquid matter from the connector's complex geometry, including the female thread and corners, due to issues with the strength and deformation of the cylindrical portion.
Innovation Solution
A wiping tip comprising a hollow cylindrical member with a cotton-like wiping member arranged on its surface, where the cotton-like member forms a thin film portion and an outer circumferential portion, allowing deep insertion into the gap between the male member and the outer cylinder, and effectively cleaning the connector's surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a foam or non-woven fabric cylindrical portion is used to absorb liquid matter, then the wiping function is improved, but the cylindrical portion deforms and cannot be inserted deep enough to reach the bottom plate
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical portion is divided into two distinct parts: a hard outer cylindrical shell that provides structural strength and enables deep insertion, and a soft water-absorbing inner portion that performs the wiping function. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiping tip uses a composite structure combining a hard material (such as plastic or metal) for the cylindrical shell and a soft water-absorbing material (such as foam or non-woven fabric) for the inner wiping portion. This composite design integrates the advantages of both materials: structural integrity from the hard shell and wiping effectiveness from the soft inner portion.
2Strength
If the cylindrical portion is made too hard to maintain strength, then insertion depth is improved, but the cylindrical portion cannot deform to match the connector geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical portion is segmented into a rigid outer shell for structural support and a compliant inner water-absorbing portion that can deform to conform to the connector's geometry, including threads and corners.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the cylindrical portion have different mechanical properties: the outer shell maintains rigidity for structural integrity, while the inner water-absorbing portion has local compliance to adapt to irregular surfaces and deformable geometry of the connector.
3Quantity of substance
If a conventional cylindrical wiping tip is used, then liquid matter absorption is improved, but complete cleaning of complex geometry including threads and corners is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The wiping tip is segmented with the hard cylindrical shell providing structural support for deep insertion and the soft inner portion making contact with all surfaces including threads and corners to ensure complete cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The hard cylindrical shell acts as an intermediary that enables the soft inner wiping portion to reach deep into the connector and maintain contact with all surfaces, including difficult-to-reach areas like threads and corners.
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 wiping tip enables thorough cleaning of the male connector by allowing the cotton-like wiping member to reach and clean the bottom plate and the inside of the female thread, ensuring complete removal of liquid matter and preventing unsanitary conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a water-absorbing cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is inserted into the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer cylinder 913. Liquid matter remaining in the gap is absorbed by the cylindrical portion and wiped off
Implementation Method 2
Liquid matter remaining in the gap is absorbed by the cylindrical portion and wiped off
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A wiping tip (1) includes a hollow cylindrical member (10), and a cotton-like wiping member (20) arranged on the cylindrical member (10). The cotton-like wiping member (20) constitutes a thin film portion (21) covering an opening at an end of the cylindrical member (10), and an outer circumferential portion (23) extending from the thin film portion (21) and covering an outer circumferential face of the cylindrical member (10) over a predetermined length from the end.