dwblair/zip-tube

An easy-to-clean piping / tubing design.

zip-tube

This design came out of the MIT Media Lab Breast Pump Hackathon, and is Licensed under the CERN Open Hardware License 1.2

An easy-to-clean piping / tubing design. After using the zip-tube as a pipe, you can open it up and wash the inside. Heavier plastics could be used to make the tube robust in dishwashers and using other sterilization procedures.

Problem -- sterile transport for fluids.

Solution -- zip-tubing!

Note: in the below photos, the ends of the 'zip-tube' are open, and can be connected (via special connecters, yet to be designed) to various nozzles and etc.

Closed:

Open:

Nozzle for end of tube

Splits in half, to allow for easier cleaning

zip-tube's Issues

Rigid for Suction?

Awesome Idea! Team Second Nature is definitely interested in this kind of tubing, since hard-to-clean tubing is a time sink for new moms with very little time. Would this be rigid enough to withstand suction? Being able to hold it's shape under the force from a pump would be important :)
-Team Second Nature