Medical Access Port Needle Shift Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frequent use of vascular access ports for medical treatments in patients leads to discomfort and scarring due to repeated needle penetration at the same location, and there is a risk of infection from bacterial contamination.
Innovation Solution
A subcutaneous vascular access port with a needle shift mechanism that allows the needle to rotate along an arcuate path, enabling it to change penetration locations with each use, reducing scarring and minimizing infection risk through a self-healing silicone material and a ratcheting mechanism for precise needle positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the needle penetrates the skin at the same location for repeated treatments, then the access port can be used efficiently, but scarring and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is made movable relative to the access port body through a ratcheting mechanism, allowing it to be rotated to different positions. This dynamic adjustment enables the needle to penetrate at multiple locations around the port rather than a fixed point, reducing scarring while maintaining treatment efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The access port is designed with multiple potential penetration locations segmented around its circumference. The needle can be positioned at different segments (locations) of the port, allowing distributed use across multiple sites rather than concentrated use at a single point
2Ease of operation
If the needle extends into the skin for treatment access, then vascular access is achieved, but the risk of bacterial contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is designed to be extendable and retractable relative to the access port body. This dynamic configuration allows the needle to be extended only when treatment is needed and retracted afterward, minimizing the time the skin is breached and reducing the window for bacterial contamination while maintaining ease of vascular access
3Device complexity
If the needle remains in a fixed position in the access port, then the structure is simple, but the penetration location cannot be changed to reduce scarring
Solution Approach 1:
A ratcheting mechanism is incorporated into the access port to enable the needle to be rotated to different positions. This mechanical solution provides a relatively simple way to achieve needle position change without requiring complex actuators or mechanisms, balancing structural simplicity with the ability to change penetration locations
Solution Approach 2:
The ratcheting mechanism acts as an intermediary component between the needle and the access port body, facilitating controlled movement and position changes of the needle while maintaining the overall simplicity of the port structure
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
A medical device comprising a subcutaneous access port having an access port body and at least one needle having a removable needle tip and a needle shaft defining a needle lumen; the at least one needle housed within the access port body, the at least one needle extendable and retractable relative to the access port body; and a needle shift mechanism operable such that the at least one needle is extendable from and retractable into the access port body at a plurality of positions of the access port body.