Angled Insertion Head for Medical Applications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insertion heads for medical or pharmaceutical applications have a large packaging volume due to the puncturing device and protective needle, which increases handling and storage challenges.

Innovation Solution

The insertion head features a housing with a pivoting or retractable puncturing device that can be moved from a protected position to a penetrating position, where the puncturing section is angled or tilted, allowing for compact packaging by integrating the protective mechanism within the housing, reducing the overall size and volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a needle protector is releasably fastened to the housing extending from the housing and enclosing the cannula and the puncturing needle, then user safety from puncturing injuries is improved, but the volume of the insertion head and packaging is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from puncturing injuriesVSAvoidvolume of insertion head

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The puncturing needle is inserted into and surrounded by the flexible cannula, which in turn is surrounded by the needle protector. This nested arrangement allows multiple protective and functional elements to occupy the same spatial envelope, reducing the overall volume of the insertion head while maintaining safety and functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The needle protector is designed to be movable between a protective position where it encloses the needle and a retracted position where it allows needle deployment. This dynamic capability enables the device to maintain a compact form factor when protected while still allowing full functionality when needed, resolving the volume-safety contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the puncturing needle projects through the cannula and the cannula closely surrounds the puncturing needle, then the puncturing device can effectively penetrate tissue, but the volume of the insertion head is considerably increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue penetration capabilityVSAvoidvolume of insertion head

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The puncturing needle projects through the lumen of the flexible cannula, with the cannula closely surrounding the needle. This nested configuration allows the sharp needle to be housed within the softer cannula structure, enabling effective tissue penetration while containing the overall volume within a compact cylindrical envelope rather than requiring separate housing for each component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The puncturing needle and flexible cannula are combined into a single integrated puncturing device assembly where the needle serves as the core penetrating element and the cannula provides both protection and the infusion pathway. This merging of functions into a single compact unit reduces the overall volume compared to having separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8636697B2Insertion head for medical or pharmaceutical applications

Publication Date: 2014.01.28 ROCHE DIABETES CARE INC

AI summary

An insertion head for medical or pharmaceutical uses including a housing with a side that can be positioned on tissue and a penetrating device with a tip, the penetrating device carried by the housing in a protected orientation in which the housing covers the tip and a penetrating orientation in which the tip protrudes, wherein the penetrating orientation is angled relative to the protected orientation.