SEDATION SYSTEMS’ VENT CONNECTOR

By Jeremy Nashed | August 17, 2022

This product was developed as an accessory to a Medical Device- Sedation Systems’ Nitrous Analgesia system and Miniscav device. The Vent Connector is designed to safely remove exhalant and excess nitrous from the environment by emptying it into a sink drain. Emergnt developed this product for Additive Manufacturing and designed for ease of assembly.

Sedation Systems’ Nitrous Analgesia system allows doctors across specialties to administer Nitrous Sedation for in-office procedures. However, chronic exposure to Nitrous Oxide presents a risk to care providers. To resolve this, the system couples with a Miniscav– a scavenging pump. Scavenging devices typically pump unwanted gas through an external vent. In the case of procedure rooms where no external vent is available, an alternative was necessary for removing the unwanted gas.

The Vent Connector utilizes the existing P-trap in every sink. The standard u-pipe of a sink drain always holds a small amount of water, preventing smells from wafting up through the drain from down the line. The Vent Connector was conceived as a one-way gas valve that connects to the line next to the P-trap, allowing the unwanted to Nitrous Oxide to be released into the drain without it returning to the procedure room.

The Vent Connector fits into a standard sink drain line next to the sink’s P-Trap, allowing harmful Nirtous Oxide to be disposed of safely.

DESIGN PROCESS FROM IDEA TO THE PROTOTYPE

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

A spring/piston mechanism was chosen for the one-way valve, as this would give the user a high degree of confidence that the valve was competent. Since the product was meant to be compatible with Sedation Systems’ Miniscav, the Miniscav’s outlet pressure would drive the design. Our Mechanical Engineers conducted tests on the Miniscav to determine its pressure, and the analysis of these tests determined the size of the piston and the stiffness of the spring.

3D CAD MODELING

Once these specs were determined, the design could take shape in a 3D CAD Model. A unique, vented piston head was designed to only allow airflow when the piston was under pressure. The product was designed and dimensioned to interface with a standard sink drain and the Sedation Systems’ Miniscav hose. The product consisted of three custom parts- easy to assemble with no special tools.

RAPID PROTOTYPING

Early Rapid Prototypes validated the design. During this phase, an O-ring was spec’d and added to the piston for maximum competency.

PRODUCTION SOURCING

Sedation Systems did not yet require a production volume appropriate for injection molding, so this product was designed and Sourced for additive manufacturing. FDM printing with PET-G filament was selected as the most durable and water-resistant solution. An overseas facility was sourced for bulk production at and affordable price.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

An exploded view shows the internals of the Vent Connector’s mechanism, including the unique, vented piston head.
An exploded view shows the internals of the Vent Connector’s mechanism, including the unique, vented piston head.

The city of Rochester requested that we maximize space efficiency of the station and preserve sidewalk real-estate. A sufficiently wide base plate was spec’d to counter the innate tippability of the tall racks. To minimize the effect of this design choice on the station’s footprint, a compound, eccentric wheel cutout was developed. This geometry positioned the long bicycles to completely engulf the footprint of the baseplate, maximizing sidewalk space while ensuring the station stood securely.

A ramp feature was added to the baseplate to ensure users intuitively park their vehicles in the correct direction. The baseplates utilized a simple welded tongue to connect in series. Male and Female “end caps” were designed to terminate a series and keep debris from slipping underneath the plates. A sign was designed to match the aesthetic of the “hoops” along with a half-length baseplate to support it. The sign was design to be rotated on a central screw to multiple orientations, maximizing visibility in different urban locations.

“Emergnt Design Labs was excellent to work with! Very competent, professional and responsive. Sedation Systems was very pleased with the work they did for us with the Vent Connector product. We continue to work with Emergnt Design Labs on other projects and would recommend them highly to anyone who asks!”

Medical Device Development

Jeremy Nashed

Founder & Lead Engineer

A product design expert, Jeremy cultivated his skills working in manufacturing and rapid prototyping facilities. His design experience ranges from consumer products to government contracting, and he is known for end-to-end support on every project.

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology.