Laterally Displaceable Guide Needle for Infusion Set Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infusion sets pose risks of cannula displacement and needle exposure during guide needle removal, leading to potential infections and operational difficulties, especially in self-administration by patients.

Innovation Solution

An infusion set design featuring a laterally displaceable guide needle with a deflection element and retraction device that securely removes the needle from the cannula channel, preventing exposure and ensuring safe handling by forming an inseparable unit with the cannula housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the guide needle is manually removed from the infusion set via a grip part or spring-assisted retraction device, then the guide needle can be removed from the cannula, but the cannula may be pulled completely or partially out of the puncture site and the user may be injured by the unprotected guide needle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguide needle removalVSAvoidcannula position stability and user safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide needle is pre-deflected by more than 90 degrees through the boundary walls of the medicament channel before removal, so that when the retraction device is activated, the needle is already in a safe configuration that prevents injury and cannula displacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The retraction device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the guide needle, providing controlled removal while protecting the user from direct contact with the sharp needle tip

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a flexible guide needle is pulled out of the infusion set via the medicament channel by retraction devices with deflection through more than 90 degrees, then the guide needle can be safely retracted, but material may be abraded from the boundary walls of the medicament channel which may then be carried with the medicament into the subcutaneous tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser safety during needle removalVSAvoidmaterial abrasion and contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The infusion set is designed as a disposable single-use device, eliminating the risk of repeated use and contamination from material abrasion, while keeping the overall system cost-effective

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If the guide needle is received in the retraction device during removal, then these infusion sets do not pose any risk of injury to the operator, but the deflection of the guide needle in the medicament channel poses a possibility of material being abraded and production is difficult and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidproduction complexity and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The infusion set is divided into separable components (cannula, guide needle, retraction device) that can be manufactured independently using standard processes, then assembled, simplifying production while maintaining safety features

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The infusion set is designed as a disposable single-use device, eliminating the risk of repeated use and contamination from material abrasion, while keeping the overall system cost-effective

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS7955306B2Arrangement for introducing a liquid into the body of a patient

Publication Date: 2011.06.07 ROCHE DIABETES CARE INC

AI summary

An infusion set with a guiding needle, more particularly a laterally displaceable guiding needle.