Blunt-tip Cannula Insertion Device with Integrated Guiding Gutter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current injection techniques for aesthetic procedures, such as those using hyaluronic acid fillers, require multiple stages and cause trauma to the skin due to the need for separate needle and cannula insertion and removal, leading to increased risk of bleeding, hematomas, and accidental needle sticks, while being ergonomically challenging for practitioners.

Innovation Solution

A device with a central body and gutter system allows for the cannula with a rounded tip to be introduced under the skin in a single stage, minimizing trauma and reducing the risk of accidental needle sticks by guiding the cannula through a pre-formed access hole, thereby simplifying the procedure and enhancing ergonomics for practitioners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a standard injection needle is used for piercing the skin and then separately inserted and removed, then the practitioner can access the treatment area, but the skin trauma increases and the procedure time increases due to multiple manipulations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cannula insertionVSAvoidprocedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the piercing needle and cannula into a single integrated device. The needle and cannula are connected such that the cannula remains attached to the needle throughout the procedure, eliminating the need for separate insertion and removal operations. This merging reduces skin trauma by minimizing manipulations and simplifies the procedure while maintaining access to the treatment area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the practitioner removes the needle from the skin to insert the cannula, then the cannula can be properly positioned, but the risk of accidental needle sticks increases and sterility may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against accidental needle sticksVSAvoidease of cannula handling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By keeping the cannula permanently attached to the needle through a secure connection mechanism, the device eliminates the need for the practitioner to handle the needle and cannula separately. This reduces the risk of accidental needle sticks while maintaining ease of operation, as the practitioner simply manipulates the integrated unit without worrying about disconnection or loss of sterility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If the practitioner must locate the pierced hole by pinching the skin, then the hole can be found, but the patient experiences additional pain and hematomas may form

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of hole locationVSAvoidpatient discomfort and bleeding
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The distal tip of the cannula is made translucent or transparent, allowing the practitioner to visually locate the pierced hole by observing the cannula's position relative to the skin surface. This eliminates the need to pinch the skin to cause bleeding for location purposes, thereby reducing patient discomfort and preventing additional hematomas while maintaining precise hole location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

4Manufacturing precision

If the practitioner must memorize the needle's angle of incidence, then the cannula can be inserted correctly, but the procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of insertion angleVSAvoidprocedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cannula is pre-oriented at a specific angle relative to the needle axis during manufacturing, so that when the needle pierces the skin at the correct angle, the cannula automatically assumes the proper insertion angle. This preliminary preparation of the angle relationship eliminates the need for the practitioner to memorize or calculate angles during the procedure, reducing complexity and saving time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3177357B1Device for inserting a blunt-tip cannula under the skin of a patient and kit
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 SOFT MEDICAL AESTHETICS SAS
  • EP3177357B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3177357B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3177357B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention concerns a device for inserting a blunt-tip (20a) cannula (20) under the skin of a patient with a view to injecting a biocompatible product, said device comprising a central body (1) equipped with a groove (2) that extends along a sagittal plane (S), having a sharp distal tip (2a) projecting from a distal end (1a) of said body in order to pierce said skin, said groove being arranged to allow the cannula (20) to slide along same beyond said distal tip towards at least one area to be treated located under said skin, the central body (1) being provided with two lateral gripping arms (4) that extend symmetrically to either side of the sagittal plane (S) in a transverse direction (D) that forms, with said sagittal plane, an angle (α) of between 30° and 85°, each gripping arm (4) further having a finger grip surface (5) that has a front central portion (5a) located at a distance (d) of between 8 mm and 30 mm from the distal end (1a) of the central body (1).