Huber Safety Needle Hinge Retracts Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Known Huber needles pose a risk of needlestick injuries to healthcare workers due to the force required to withdraw them from implanted ports, potentially exposing users to bloodborne pathogens and hazardous drugs.
Innovation Solution
A Huber safety needle assembly with a hinge mechanism that transitions between closed and open configurations, allowing the needle tip to be securely retracted within the body, preventing accidental exposure and featuring gripping portions for axial alignment of transition forces to prevent rebound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle is designed to be withdrawn from the implanted port, then the needle can be removed after use, but the force required to withdraw the needle can cause rebound and needlestick injury to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is nested within the body structure, specifically retracted into the lower portion of the body after use. The body acts as a protective sheath that contains the needle, preventing exposure to users while allowing the needle to be withdrawn from the implanted port during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The body is pre-configured with a recess or lower portion designed to receive and secure the needle after withdrawal from the implanted port. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that when the needle is pulled back, it automatically engages with the body structure and cannot rebound outward, eliminating the needlestick injury risk before it can occur.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the needle tip is exposed for insertion into the implanted port, then the needle can perform its function, but the exposed needle tip poses a safety risk to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The needle position within the body is dynamic rather than fixed. The needle can be extended from the body for insertion into the implanted port and then retracted back into the body after use. This dynamic positioning allows the needle to be exposed only when necessary for its function while remaining protected during storage and disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is nested within the body structure, with the body acting as a protective sheath. When not in use, the needle tip is contained within the lower portion of the body, preventing user exposure to bloodborne pathogens while maintaining the ability to extend the needle for insertion when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A Huber safety needle assembly including a body, configured to receive a needle. The body further including an upper portion having a first gripping portion coupled thereto, a lower portion having a second gripping portion coupled to thereto, and a hinge mechanism. The needle having a needle tip configured to be received in the body. The hinge mechanism is configured to operably transition the body between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The closed configuration allowing at least a portion of the needle, including the needle tip, to extend below the bottom surface of the lower portion of the body. The open configuration allowing the needle tip to be securely received within the lower portion such that it does not extend below the bottom surface of the lower portion.