Indwelling Needle Protector Segmentation for One-Handed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indwelling needle assemblies require excessive force to protect the needle point, making it difficult to operate the protector with one hand, which can lead to accidental punctures during removal.
Innovation Solution
A protector configuration with two members, a protecting member and a closing member, where the inward urging force is not applied directly to the needle, reducing sliding resistance and allowing for one-handed operation by sliding the closing member over the protecting member to securely store the needle point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protector is designed with an inwardly urged distal end portion to automatically close the opening and protect the needle point, then the needle point protection reliability is improved, but the sliding resistance increases and the force required for operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protector is divided into two separate members: a protecting member with inwardly urged fingers that automatically close the opening to protect the needle point, and a closing member that is pulled out with the inner needle. This segmentation allows the protecting member to maintain constant contact with the needle for reliable protection while the closing member is removed separately, reducing the force required during the initial insertion operation.
2Reliability
If the protector is designed with an inwardly urged distal end portion to automatically close the opening, then the needle point protection reliability is improved, but the sliding resistance against movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the protector into a protecting member with inwardly urged fingers and a closing member, the design allows the protecting member to maintain constant contact with the needle for reliable protection while the closing member is removed separately. This reduces the sliding resistance during the initial insertion operation compared to a single integrated protector design.
3Reliability
If the protector is completely pulled out with the inner needle after use, then the needle point is protected during removal, but the operation cannot be performed with one hand due to excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The protector is divided into a protecting member that remains with the inner needle and a closing member that is pulled out separately. The protecting member with its inwardly urged fingers automatically protects the needle point during removal without requiring significant force, enabling one-handed operation. The closing member is removed in a separate, low-force action.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing member is extracted as a separate component that can be removed independently from the protecting member. This allows the protecting member to perform the needle point protection function with minimal force, enabling one-handed operation, while the closing member is removed separately through a different mechanism that does not require significant force.
Data Source
AI summary
An indwelling needle assembly and protector. The indwelling needle assembly has an inner needle, an inner needle hub, an outer needle, an outer needle hub, and a protector for protecting the needle point of the inner needle arranged on the outer periphery of the inner needle so as to be slidable in the axial direction. The protector includes a protecting member in which the needle point of the inner needle is stored and a closing member arranged on the outer periphery of the protecting member so as to be capable of sliding, a displaceable side wall which is capable of being displaced inward so as to close a distal opening of the protecting member, the displaceable side wall being displaced inwardly by the closing member arranged on the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the protecting member.