Composite Polymer Needle with Multi-Conduit Tip for Flexible Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional needles are either fragile and prone to breaking (ceramic) or too rigid and difficult to bend (steel), and they typically deliver only one type of fluid at a time, which limits their application in biomedicine and electronics where mixing reactive compounds is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A polymer needle with a cylindrical body and a tip portion forming converging surfaces, featuring a solid core and a peripheral portion made from different materials, providing sufficient longitudinal strength for penetration while allowing sideways flexibility and the ability to deliver multiple fluids through embedded conduits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ceramic material is used for needle, then the needle is fragile and easily breakable, but it provides sufficient rigidity for penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is constructed as a composite structure with a ceramic core providing rigidity and penetration capability, surrounded by a polymer peripheral portion providing flexibility and break resistance. This composite approach allows the needle to simultaneously achieve the rigidity needed for tissue penetration and the flexibility needed to prevent breaking during manipulation and insertion.
2Reliability
If steel material is used for needle, then the needle is not fragile and has sufficient strength, but it is too rigid and difficult to bend
Solution Approach 1:
The needle combines a steel or ceramic core with a polymer peripheral portion, where the polymer layer provides flexibility and bendability while the core maintains structural strength and penetration capability. This allows the needle to be bent and manipulated easily during insertion while remaining strong enough to penetrate tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the needle have different material properties: the core provides rigid strength for penetration, while the peripheral polymer portion provides flexibility for manipulation. This local differentiation of material properties allows each region to perform its specific function optimally.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single material is used for needle, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the needle can only deliver one type of fluid at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is divided into multiple functional segments: a central core for structural support and penetration, and multiple peripheral portions that can independently deliver different fluids through separate conduits. This segmentation allows the needle to simultaneously deliver multiple fluids while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is designed as a multi-functional device that can deliver multiple different fluids simultaneously through separate conduits in the peripheral portion, while the core provides universal structural support for all fluid delivery functions. This multi-functionality addresses the need to mix reactive compounds while maintaining a unified needle structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If polymer material is used for needle, then the needle is robust and can deliver multiple fluids, but it may lack sufficient longitudinal strength for penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The needle uses a composite structure where a steel or ceramic core provides the necessary longitudinal strength for tissue penetration, while the polymer peripheral portion enables multi-fluid delivery through embedded conduits. This composite design ensures the needle meets both strength requirements for penetration and versatility requirements for multi-fluid delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a polymer needle comprising a body portion with a cylindrical cross-section and a tip portion in extension to the body portion. The tip portion of the needle forms at least two converging surfaces defining an edge. The needle forms a plurality of conduits arranged about a central solid core. The conduits and the core extend from the body portion into the tip portion such that each conduit terminates in one of the tip surfaces and the solid core forms the tip.The invention further relates to an apparatus for cleaving a polymer fibre at elevated temperatures. The polymer needle is prepared by this cleaving apparatus. The cleaving apparatus comprises a holding means for holding the fibre, a guide for guiding the movement of a cleaving knife, and a cleaving knife forming a cutting face of V-shape.