Collapsible Sheath Safety Needle with Spring Clip Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accidental needle stick injuries remain a risk for healthcare workers due to the susceptibility of used hypodermic needles to transmit diseases, particularly hepatitis and AIDS, as existing needle protectors often misalign during disposal, increasing the likelihood of puncture and disease transmission.
Innovation Solution
A safety needle assembly featuring a collapsible sheath made of high-strength polyester film with a spring clip mechanism that extends to cover the needle, providing a positive lock to prevent the needle from exiting and maintaining a sealed condition for disposal, while allowing easy extension and retraction without breaking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional needle cap is used for disposal, then the needle can be covered, but misalignment during reinsertion causes hand puncture and increases disease transmission risk
Solution Approach 1:
The needle cap is designed to be movable along the needle shaft, transitioning from a static protective cover to a dynamic recapping mechanism. The cap can be slid distally to expose the needle for use, then slid proximally to cover and secure the needle for disposal, eliminating misalignment issues through guided motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle cap serves as an intermediary component between the needle and the user's hand. By extending the cap's length to at least twice the needle length, it creates a safe distance that prevents direct contact between the user's hand and the needle tip during disposal operations.
2Reliability
If the protective cap bore is dimensioned close to needle diameter for tight fit, then needle is secured, but misalignment causes hand puncture during reinsertion
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional fit issue (bore diameter matching needle diameter) to a three-dimensional solution by extending the cap's length along the needle's axis. This additional dimensional approach allows the needle to be fully enclosed within the extended cap length, preventing hand puncture even if minor misalignment occurs during reinsertion.
3Ease of operation
If a short needle cap is used, then it is easy to handle, but it cannot adequately cover the needle for safe disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The cap's functionality is made dynamic through its ability to slide along the needle shaft. When needed for disposal, the cap can be extended distally to fully cover the needle, and when needed for needle access, it can be retracted proximally. This dynamic adjustment allows a single cap structure to fulfill both short-handling and long-protection requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The needle of a syringe, wire guide, biopsy needle, Huber needle and the like is drawn into a protective cap and sheath arrangement after use for disposal purposes. The cap is tethered to a housing in which the needle is mounted by the sheath. The sheath is made of a film material that has a high tensile strength and a low percent of elongation, such as polyester. The sheath is initially mounted about the needle in a collapsed accordion-like condition between the cap and housing. When the cap is moved along the needle, the sheath is played out over the needle. The cap houses a spring clip to snap over the bore through which the needle is retracted to prevent re-emergence of the needle. The flexible nature of the sheath allows the sheath to pass about the two legs of the Huber needle.