Auto-Locking Shield for Cannula Obturator Stick Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for protecting the distal tips of elongated medical instruments, such as needles and trocars, are inadequate in preventing inadvertent sticks that can lead to bloodborne infections, as the exposed tips can come into contact with pathogens during insertion and withdrawal.
Innovation Solution
A multi-member insertion assembly with a shield that automatically locks onto the distal end of the obturator or trocar upon removal from the needle or cannula, inhibiting inadvertent contact by transitioning from an unlocked to a locked state, thereby preventing exposure to the distal tip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the distal tip of the obturator or trocar is exposed during insertion and withdrawal, then the instrument can be easily manipulated and inserted, but the practitioner is at risk of inadvertent sticks and bloodborne infections
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is pre-loaded onto the obturator or trocar in an unlocked state before the procedure begins. This preliminary positioning allows the sharp distal tip to remain exposed and accessible during insertion, while the shield is ready to automatically transition to a locked protective state immediately after use, eliminating the need for separate protective actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield acts as an intermediary protective element between the practitioner and the sharp distal tip of the obturator or trocar. It provides a physical barrier that blocks contact with the sharp tip while allowing the instrument to function normally during the procedure, and automatically engages to protect the practitioner during withdrawal and disposal.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective shield is added to cover the distal tip, then protection against inadvertent sticks is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield transitions dynamically between two states: an unlocked state during insertion that allows easy manipulation and access to the sharp tip, and a locked state during withdrawal and disposal that automatically engages to protect the practitioner. This dynamic state change is triggered by the natural motion of the instrument during the procedure, eliminating the need for complex manual activation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield automatically transitions from the unlocked to the locked state based on the natural motion of inserting and withdrawing the obturator or trocar, without requiring additional manual activation or complex control systems. The design leverages the procedure itself to trigger the protective action, simplifying the overall system while maintaining effective protection.
3Reliability
If the shield automatically locks onto the distal end upon removal, then safety is improved by preventing exposure, but the ease of operation during insertion may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is pre-positioned on the obturator or trocar in an unlocked state before the procedure begins. This preliminary configuration ensures that the sharp distal tip is fully accessible during insertion without any protective interference, while the shield is already in place to automatically engage and provide protection immediately upon withdrawal, eliminating the need for separate protective actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield dynamically transitions from an unlocked state during insertion to a locked state during withdrawal. This dynamic behavior allows the shield to be transparent to the insertion process while automatically providing protection during removal, resolving the conflict between ease of insertion and safety during removal through motion-triggered state changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method can include coupling a penetration system to an automated driver. The penetration system can include a cannula hub; a cannula attached to the cannula hub and defining a lumen; an elongated instrument positioned within the lumen of the cannula, the shield defining a distal tip; and a shield coupled to each of the cannula hub and the elongated instrument. The method can include driving the penetration system into a bone via the automated driver to position the cannula within the bone; retracting the elongated instrument in a proximal direction relative to the cannula while the cannula remains positioned within the bone and while the shield remains coupled to each of the cannula hub and the elongated instrument; and automatically locking the shield to the elongated instrument upon further retraction of the elongated instrument.