Hinged Needle Shield With Living Hinge and Deflecting Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinged needle shield assemblies are costly and difficult to manufacture due to the need for precise alignment of the needle cannula and safety shield, limiting production throughput and requiring separate manufacturing lines compared to conventional needles.
Innovation Solution
A needle shield assembly with a shield portion, hub connection portion, and bridge portion, featuring a partially circular receiving ring that deflects to lock the needle assembly in place, and a living hinge that allows for easy one-handed operation and snap-fit retention, enabling efficient manufacturing and safe needle disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid sleeve needle shield is used, then needle protection is achieved, but two-handed operation is required reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a rigid, fixed needle shield to a dynamic hinged shield that can pivot between open and closed positions. The living hinge enables the shield to rotate and conform to the needle assembly, allowing one-handed operation while maintaining protection capability. The deflectable receiving ring provides additional dynamic adaptation during the shielding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible receiving ring made of elastomeric material that can deflect and deform to accommodate the needle assembly during engagement. This flexibility allows the shield to be easily applied with one hand while ensuring secure retention of the needle in the protected position.
2Reliability
If hinged needle shield with direct fitment is used, then needle protection is achieved, but manufacturing throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the hinged needle shield with a universal interface that can accommodate various needle assemblies without requiring precise rotational alignment. The deflectable receiving ring and hinged mechanism allow the shield to adapt to different needle orientations, enabling integration with existing conventional needle production lines and eliminating the need for separate manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the receiving ring, making it partially circular rather than fully circular, and providing deflectability. This parameter change allows the shield to engage with the needle assembly in multiple orientations, eliminating the need for precise alignment during manufacturing and significantly improving production throughput.
3Ease of operation
If hinged needle shield is used, then one-handed operation is enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the needle shield into distinct functional segments: a shield portion for protection, a bridge portion containing the living hinge for articulation, and a hub connection portion with the deflectable receiving ring for engagement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall manufacturing process by enabling modular production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a living hinge as an intermediary element between the shield portion and hub connection portion. This living hinge mediates the mechanical connection, providing the necessary articulation for one-handed operation while maintaining structural integrity. The hinge acts as a simple mechanical mediator that reduces overall device complexity compared to more complex articulation mechanisms.
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 allows for cost-effective and efficient production of hinged needle shield assemblies that can be easily manufactured and used, providing safe one-handed operation and secure needle disposal, enhancing safety and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the bridge portion comprising a hub connection portion and a bridge portion and a living hinge
Implementation Method 2
the partially circular receiving ring deflects or elastically deforms outwardly upon advancement of a receiving flange of the needle assembly, the partially circular receiving ring locks the receiving flange of the needle assembly within
Implementation Method 3
The friction fit between the receiving flange and the receiving ring retentively engages the needle assembly in the shielded position
Data Source
AI summary
A needle shield assembly for use with a needle assembly is disclosed. The needle shield assembly includes an elongate needle shield comprising a shield portion, a hub connection portion and a bridge portion including a living hinge having a thickness. The bridge portion joins the hub connection portion and the shield portion. The hub connection portion includes a partially circular receiving ring having a diameter sized to frictionally receive a flange of a hub of the needle assembly. The shield portion includes two longitudinal walls defining a cavity and a needle assembling receiving cavity between the two longitudinal walls defining a recess. The shield portion is configured to pivot from an open position in which a needle cannula is exposed, to a closed needle protecting position in which a distal end of the needle cannula is within the longitudinal opening of the shield.