Flashback Blood Collection Needle with Internal Vent
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current venipuncture devices lack immediate indication of successful vein entry, leading to repetitive procedures and increased patient discomfort and costs due to the delay in confirming vein entry.
Innovation Solution
A needle assembly with a clear housing and internal vent mechanism that allows blood to flow directly into a flashback chamber, providing immediate visualization of vein entry and preventing blood leakage upon removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cannula with sealable sleeve is used for venipuncture, then the device structure is simplified, but immediate indication of vein entry is not provided causing delay in confirming successful puncture
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a first chamber (flashback chamber) and a second chamber (vent chamber) separated by a porous vent. This segmentation allows blood to be visualized immediately in the first chamber while air is evacuated through the second chamber, providing immediate feedback without complicating the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A porous vent mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the two chambers. This porous vent allows air to escape during the flashback process while preventing blood leakage, enabling immediate visualization of vein entry without requiring complex additional components.
2Loss of time
If a flashback chamber is added to provide immediate indication of vein entry, then time to confirm vein entry is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flashback chamber and vent chamber are merged into a single housing structure with a porous vent separating them. This integration provides immediate vein entry indication through the clear housing while the porous vent automatically manages air evacuation and blood containment, avoiding the need for separate complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
A porous vent is used to separate the two chambers. The porous material allows air to pass through during evacuation while preventing blood from leaking, providing a simple yet effective solution that reduces device complexity compared to using mechanical valves or seals.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a porous vent is used to allow air evacuation during blood collection, then blood leakage is prevented, but the vent mechanism adds device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
A porous vent is used as the vent mechanism, which passively allows air to escape through its porous structure while the surface tension and pore size prevent blood from passing through. This eliminates the need for complex mechanical valves, seals, or actuators to prevent blood leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous vent performs multiple functions automatically: it allows air to escape during the flashback process, prevents blood from leaking into the vent chamber, and maintains the seal without requiring any external control or additional components. The vent serves itself by utilizing the physical properties of the porous material.
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 immediate confirmation of vein entry, reducing unnecessary procedures, minimizing patient discomfort, and preventing blood leakage, thus optimizing the blood collection process.
Implementation Method 1
The porous vent includes pores for passage of blood therethrough from the first chamber to the second chamber
Implementation Method 2
air is drawn from the second chamber, thereby establishing a negative pressure within the second chamber with respect to an external environment of the needle assembly
Implementation Method 3
Upon application of an evacuated container to the non-patient puncture tip, blood is drawn from the first chamber and air is drawn from the second chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A needle assembly includes a transparent or translucent housing with a fluid inlet end, a fluid outlet end, a flashback chamber, and a venting mechanism therebetween. Substantially axially aligned inlet and outlet cannulas extend from the housing and communicate with the chamber. A sealable sleeve covers the external end of the outlet cannula. Relative volumes of the cannulas, the chamber, and the sleeve are selected to provide rapid reliable flashback indicative of venous entry with an internal vent positioned within the housing so as to divide the interior into first and second chambers, with the second chamber being adapted to maintain a negative pressure therein relative to the external environment so as to inhibit leakage of blood from the needle on withdrawal from the patient.