Disposable Acupuncture Needle Package with Pivotable Headrest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterile acupuncture needle packaging technologies are inefficient and inconvenient, as individual needles require separate unsealing, leading to low efficiency and potential contamination of other needles during use, especially when multiple needles are packaged together.
Innovation Solution
A package design featuring a packaging tray with a moveable headrest and collapsible film jackets, allowing multiple needles to be securely positioned and protected, with a sealing bag that can be easily opened to expose the needles for sterile use, utilizing vacuum packaging for sterilization and a support mechanism to facilitate sterile operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If multiple acupuncture needles are packaged in the same plastic bubble cap, then unsealing time is reduced, but other needles may be contaminated by fingers when one is taken out for use
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is segmented into individual compartments within a single tray, with each needle having its own protective environment. The tray itself is segmented into multiple sections that can be independently accessed, allowing one needle to be removed without exposing others to contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary protective structure (the tray with individual compartments) between the needles and the external environment. This intermediary allows selective access to individual needles while maintaining the sterile barrier for all needles until they are individually accessed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If individual acupuncture needles are packaged in separate plastic bubble caps, then contamination risk is reduced, but unsealing efficiency is low and it is inconvenient when taken out for use
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individually protected needles are merged into a single integrated tray structure. The tray combines multiple individual compartments (each protecting one needle) into one unified packaging unit that can be sterilized and handled as a single entity, improving efficiency while maintaining individual protection.
3Device complexity
If acupuncture needles are packaged without a support mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but needle displacement or damage may occur during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing support and positioning features specifically at the locations where needles are placed in the tray. Each compartment has tailored positioning elements (such as recesses, clips, or adhesive areas) that match the specific geometry of the needle, providing stable fixation without requiring complex overall structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables convenient use of multiple acupuncture needles with reduced contamination risk, improved sterile operation efficiency, and secure packaging to prevent needle displacement or damage during transport.
Implementation Method 1
each of the acupuncture needles including a collapsible film jacket enveloped on the elongate needle body
Implementation Method 2
A vacuum packaging technology may be used in the package to seal the packaging box holding the acupuncture needles, so as to perform sterilization via high-energy electron or isotope irradiation
Implementation Method 3
a moveable headrest pivotably attached to an end of the packaging tray
Data Source
AI summary
A package holding acupuncture needles comprises a packaging tray having a needle supporting board with positioning groves defined thereon for securely supporting and positioning acupuncture needles therein; a moveable headrest pivotably attached to an end of the packaging tray; a plurality of acupuncture needles each including an elongate needle body securely received in the corresponding groove, and having a shank extending into the moveable headrest, each of the acupuncture needles including a collapsible film jacket enveloped on the elongate needle body; a sealing bag enveloping the packaging tray and the moveable headrest with the acupuncture needles thereon; and when the sealing bag is removed from the packaging tray, the moveable headrest can be rotated between a horizontal position and a substantial vertical position to support the packaging tray in a way that the shanks of the acupuncture are exposed for being readily retrieved from the packaging tray.