Enhanced Needleless Connector for Improved Fluid Flow, Safety, and Durability
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept presents a suite of direct improvements and enhancements to the original high-flow, needleless connector, addressing inherent limitations and providing better performance, safety, and durability.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed a high-flow, needleless connector for safe connections in intravenous and blood administration therapies. However, it had limitations in terms of fluid flow, safety, and durability. The new inventive concept tackles these limitations by introducing optimized internal valve members, pressure-relief valves, anti-rotation mechanisms, reinforced annular walls, wear-resistant coatings, antimicrobial valve members, hydrophobic coatings, visual alignment indicators, and tactile feedback mechanisms.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The enhanced needleless connector comprises a body with a first mating structure and a second mating structure. The first mating structure features an optimized internal valve member with a reduced pressure drop, a pressure-relief valve, and an antimicrobial valve member. The second mating structure includes a tapered annular wall for enhanced fluid flow, an anti-rotation mechanism to prevent unintended detachment, a reinforced annular wall with a hardened surface, and a wear-resistant coating. Additionally, the connector incorporates a hydrophobic coating, visual alignment indicators, and tactile feedback mechanisms to facilitate safe and efficient assembly.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new inventive concept's novelty lies in the combination of optimized internal valve members, pressure-relief valves, anti-rotation mechanisms, reinforced annular walls, wear-resistant coatings, antimicrobial valve members, hydrophobic coatings, visual alignment indicators, and tactile feedback mechanisms, which collectively provide a significant improvement over the original patent's design.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments may include different materials, geometries, or configurations for the optimized internal valve members, pressure-relief valves, anti-rotation mechanisms, reinforced annular walls, wear-resistant coatings, antimicrobial valve members, hydrophobic coatings, visual alignment indicators, and tactile feedback mechanisms. Variations may also include different applications, such as use in other medical devices or industries.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The enhanced needleless connector has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in intravenous and blood administration therapies. The improved performance, safety, and durability of the connector can lead to increased adoption and market share, as well as expansion into new markets and applications.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61M39/146 |
| A | A61 | A61M39/26 |
| A | A61 | A61M2039/1083 |
| A | A61 | A61M2039/1088 |
| A | A61 | A61M2039/267 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Medical device engineering, specifically intravenous fluid transfer systems and needleless connector design, requiring expertise in fluid dynamics, medical device safety, materials science, and mechanical engineering with advanced knowledge of medical device manufacturing and fluid transfer technologies
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A biomedical engineer with 5-7 years of experience in medical device design, familiar with fluid transfer technologies, valve mechanisms, and medical device safety standards, possessing advanced knowledge of materials engineering and medical device manufacturing processes
Obviousness Rationale
A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the published technical disclosure represents predictable variations and incremental improvements to the source patent's fundamental needleless connector design. The proposed modifications address known limitations in medical device engineering through standard problem-solving techniques and well-established design optimization strategies. Each proposed variation represents a logical extension of existing medical device engineering principles applied to the specific context of needleless connectors.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,752 |
|---|---|
| Title | High flow, needleless connector |
| Assignee(s) | RyMed Technologies, LLC |