Subcutaneous Access Port Needle Shift Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frequent use of vascular access ports for infusion treatments in patients leads to discomfort, scarring, and a risk of infection due to repeated needle penetration at the same location, with existing devices lacking effective mechanisms to minimize tissue injury and prevent bacterial contamination.
Innovation Solution
A subcutaneous vascular access port with a needle shift mechanism that allows the needle to rotate along an arcuate path, changing its penetration location with each use, and a needle elevator mechanism for extension and retraction, integrated with a self-healing silicone material to prevent tissue ingrowth and bacterial entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a needle is repeatedly inserted into the same location through the access port, then the access port can be used multiple times for infusion treatments, but scarring and tissue injury increase with each use
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is made rotatable within the access port, allowing it to dynamically change its penetration location with each use. The needle can be rotated to different angular positions (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°) while maintaining extension through the same access port body, thereby distributing tissue injury across multiple locations rather than concentrating it at a single point.
2Ease of operation
If a needle is extended through the access port for infusion, then therapy can be delivered to the patient, but bacteria from the skin surface may be dragged into the port causing infection
Solution Approach 1:
The access port employs a self-healing silicone septum that automatically seals around the needle after penetration. This preliminary sealing action prevents bacteria from the skin surface from being dragged into the port during needle insertion and infusion operations. The septum's self-healing property ensures continuous protection against contamination while allowing repeated needle access.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the needle penetration location is changed with each use, then scarring and tissue injury are minimized, but the device complexity increases due to the needle shift mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The needle shift mechanism utilizes simple rotational dynamics, allowing the needle to be rotated to different angular positions within the access port. This dynamic repositioning capability enables the needle to penetrate at different locations (e.g., different clock positions on the port) without requiring complex mechanical structures, thereby minimizing tissue injury while maintaining device simplicity.
Data Source
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.