Catheter Needle Guard with Flow Regulator and Cam Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravenous infusion devices lack effective mechanisms for safe needle retraction and flow control, leading to potential accidental needle sticks and inefficient fluid management.
Innovation Solution
A needle device with a flow control system and needle guard mechanism, featuring a compressible elastic sleeve and a release element that allows for safe needle retraction and disengagement from the catheter hub, utilizing a camming action to separate the needle guard from the catheter hub.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a needle guard mechanism is added to prevent accidental needle sticks, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard is nested within the catheter hub structure, with the guard forming an integral part of the hub's interior cavity. This nesting approach allows the safety mechanism to be incorporated without adding external components, thereby improving safety while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle guard mechanism is designed to be automatically actuated by the needle itself during retraction. The needle's movement directly triggers the guard's positioning without requiring external actuators or complex control systems, achieving safety through self-service while keeping the device simple.
2Productivity
If a flow control regulator is included in the catheter hub, then fluid flow management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control regulator is designed as a multi-functional component that integrates flow regulation, sealing, and structural support functions within a single element positioned in the interior cavity of the catheter hub. This allows improved fluid flow management while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional consolidation.
3Ease of operation
If the needle guard is removably engaged to the catheter hub, then ease of assembly and disassembly is improved, but reliability of engagement may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard is pre-configured with engagement features that automatically align with corresponding features on the catheter hub during assembly. This preliminary positioning ensures that the removable engagement achieves both ease of assembly and reliable connection without requiring complex alignment procedures.
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
The solution ensures safe needle retraction, prevents accidental needle sticks, and facilitates efficient fluid flow management by using a compressible sleeve and release element to manage the needle guard's separation from the catheter hub.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible elastic sleeve
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a camming action to separate the needle guard from the catheter hub
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A
AI summary
A needle device includes a catheter hub, a needle hub, and a housing located between the catheter hub and the needle hub. The housing has an engagement mechanism to removably attach the housing to the catheter hub. The housing further includes a release element to release the engagement mechanism from the catheter hub to disengage the housing from the catheter hub. A flow regulator is positioned inside the catheter hub. The flow regulator includes a stem and a sleeve.