Indwelling Needle Safety Guard with Elastic Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indwelling needle assemblies for vascular catheter insertion face challenges in safely covering the needle after extraction, as manual extension mechanisms can lead to accidental sticking and require complex structures for automatic extension.
Innovation Solution
A one-handed, simple structure indwelling needle assembly with a safety guard featuring a slidably fitted first sleeve, a telescopically extended second sleeve, an elastic body for automatic extension, and a latching mechanism to irreversibly hold the sleeve in a position concealing the needle, along with a lock for easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual extension of telescopic sleeves is used to cover the needle, then the needle can be concealed, but the risk of accidental sticking increases and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body automatically urges the first sleeve toward the second position (concealing the needle) without requiring manual operation. The system serves itself by using the elastic body's stored energy to perform the safety coverage function, eliminating the need for complex automatic extension mechanisms while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety guard is divided into two separate telescopic sleeves (first sleeve and second sleeve) that can move independently. The first sleeve is automatically extended by the elastic body, while the second sleeve can be manually extended if needed. This segmentation allows the automatic safety function to be achieved with a simpler mechanism while retaining the option for manual extension.
2Device complexity
If manual extension of the safety guard is used, then the structure can be simple, but the risk of accidental sticking increases due to hand operation
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body automatically urges the first sleeve toward the second position (concealing the needle) without requiring manual operation. The system serves itself by using the elastic body's stored energy to perform the safety coverage function, eliminating the need for complex automatic extension mechanisms while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful action of manual hand operation is extracted and replaced by the automatic action of the elastic body. By removing the need for hand operation in the critical safety function, the risk of accidental sticking during the coverage process is eliminated while keeping the structure simple.
3Ease of operation
If a lock mechanism is added to hold the first sleeve at the first position, then the needle remains exposed for insertion, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is extracted from the interior of the cover and repositioned on the exterior via the operation piece. This allows the lock to be operated from outside the cover without requiring disassembly or complex internal mechanisms, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining the necessary locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation piece acts as an intermediary between the user's finger and the lock mechanism. It transmits the unlocking force from the exterior to the interior lock, enabling easy one-handed operation while keeping the lock mechanism itself simple and integrated into the existing structure.
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
Enables safe and automatic concealment of the needle point after insertion, preventing accidental sticking and simplifying the assembly process with a straightforward mechanism that can be operated with one hand.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body intervening between the base body and the first sleeve so as to urge the first sleeve toward the second position
Data Source
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AI summary
An indwelling needle assembly (1) for introducing a catheter (3) into a vascular system is disclosed. The indwelling needle assembly is provided with: a needle (5) capable of being slidably fitted in the catheter and insertable into the vascular system; a base body (7) fixed to a proximal end of the needle; a first sleeve (15) slidably fitted around the base body, which is movable between a first position to expose a distal end of the needle and a second position to conceal the distal end of the needle; an elastic body (25) intervening between the base body and the first sleeve so as to urge the first sleeve toward the second position; a second sleeve (19) telescopically fitted to the first sleeve, which includes a latching device (31) configured to hold the first sleeve at the second position; a cover (17) fixed to the base body, which is so dimensioned as to house the first sleeve and the second sleeve when the first sleeve is at the first position; and a lock (39) configured to releasably hold the first sleeve at the first position.