Blood Collection Needle Venting Chamber for Spill-Free Large Gauges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-sample blood collection needles face issues with ventilation filters that limit the use of large-sized needles, are difficult to manufacture, and can cause blood spillage or leakage, especially when the filter is damaged.
Innovation Solution
A hypodermic needle design with a ventilation filter chamber aligned parallel to the needle's longitudinal axis, using a self-sealing porous material, and a vent hole that directs air and any excess blood through a guided path via capillary forces, preventing lateral spillage and allowing use of large needles like 18G.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ventilation filter is provided coaxial to the needle and between the needle and the support element, then air can be discharged from the needle, but the support element becomes excessively large for large-sized needles (18G)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the ventilation filter from a coaxial arrangement (along the needle axis) to a lateral arrangement (perpendicular to the needle axis). The filter is placed in a chamber that opens laterally to the support element, changing the spatial dimension of the ventilation path. This dimensional change allows the filter to be positioned outside the main needle body volume, enabling large-sized needles (18G and above) to vent air effectively without increasing the support element's diameter.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support element wall thickness is reduced to accommodate large needles, then large-sized needles can be used, but the wall thickness becomes too small for manufacturing and filter ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the support element into distinct functional zones: a main body portion and a lateral chamber portion. The ventilation filter is housed in a separate lateral chamber that opens to the support element's side. This segmentation allows the main support element wall to maintain adequate thickness for structural integrity and manufacturing, while the lateral chamber provides the necessary volume for filter placement and ventilation function, accommodating large-sized needles without compromising wall thickness.
3Reliability
If channels open laterally to the support element are used for ventilation, then air can escape, but blood may flow out with the air laterally to the support element causing spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the ventilation filter in a lateral chamber that is strategically located to convert potential harm into benefit. The filter chamber is designed so that any blood reaching it is caught and contained within the chamber structure, preventing lateral spillage. The self-sealing filter property further benefits this arrangement by automatically blocking blood while allowing air passage. The lateral positioning, which initially seemed to risk spillage, is transformed into an advantage by containing blood within the chamber boundaries and directing it away from the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation filter acts as an intermediary element between the needle cavity and the external environment. It selectively mediates the passage of air (allowing it through) while blocking blood (preventing it from escaping laterally). The lateral chamber serves as an intermediary space that captures and redirects any blood that reaches the ventilation area, preventing direct lateral discharge toward the operator.
4Reliability
If the ventilation filter is made with self-sealing porous material, then blood can be blocked when the filter is damaged, but the filter thickness must be sufficient to allow appropriate ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-sealing porous material for the ventilation filter. This material contains pores that allow air to pass through under normal conditions but automatically seal when exposed to blood, preventing blood leakage. The lateral chamber design provides sufficient volume to accommodate an filter with adequate thickness, ensuring both appropriate ventilation capacity and effective self-sealing blood blocking capability.
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
Ensures efficient air ventilation without blood spillage, supports large needle sizes, and facilitates quick identification and insertion, while maintaining ease of manufacturing and use.
Implementation Method 1
a ventilation filter (18) arranged in a chamber (17) open towards the external of the hub (2) through a vent hole (19) present in an end of the chamber, the filter being made of a self-sealing porous material
Implementation Method 2
Such filter may be of the 'self-sealing' type that is it has a porosity which shuts automatically when it is in contact with blood, thanks to an appropriate additive which gels occluding the pores
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A multi-sample blood collection hypodermic needle (1) comprising a needle (5) having two portions (3, 4) each provided with a sharp tip (3A, 4A) protruding from opposite sides (2A, 2B) of a hub or support element (2) of the needle, a first needle portion (3) being adapted to draw blood from a patient and the second portion (4) being lined by an elastic covering element (11) which is displaced towards the aforementioned support element (2) of the needle when collecting blood, there being provided for between the needle (5) and a portion (30) of such support element (2) a space (15) communicating with the external of such support element (2) for releasing the air present in the needle (5) upon first use thereof and pushed by the collected blood, said support element (2) acting as a blood reflux display chamber so as to indicate to the user that the needle has been properly inserted into the blood vessel. Such space (15) communicates with a chamber (17) arranged on one side of the needle (5) and containing a filtering element (18), the chamber (17) communicating with the external through a hole (19) of said support element (2) having axis parallel to that of the needle (W).