Infusion Cannula Insertion Device with Needle Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infusion device insertion devices face challenges such as needle exposure risk, patient reluctance due to needle visibility, and ease of use and sterilization issues, particularly in loading the infusion device.

Innovation Solution

The development of devices that use a needle to insert the cannula into the skin, with mechanisms to retract the needle after insertion and provide a sterile environment using a cap, enhancing user experience and safety by hiding the needle and ensuring ease of use and sterilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a needle is used to introduce the cannula into the skin, then the cannula insertion function is achieved, but the risk of needle exposure and patient discomfort increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecannula insertion reliabilityVSAvoidneedle exposure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is nested within a shield that can cover it before and after insertion. The shield acts as a protective outer layer that contains the needle, preventing exposure while allowing the needle to perform its function of inserting the cannula into the skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The shield is designed to be movable, transitioning between covering and exposing the needle as needed. This dynamic structure allows the shield to cover the needle during storage and after insertion, while allowing needle exposure only during the brief insertion moment when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If the needle is visible to the patient, then the patient can see what is being inserted, but patient reluctance and discomfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient visibility of procedureVSAvoidpatient willingness to undergo insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is nested within the shield, which provides a visual barrier between the patient and the needle. This nesting arrangement allows the procedure to proceed while keeping the needle concealed, reducing patient anxiety and reluctance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The needle exposure is minimized to only the brief moment necessary for insertion. The shield quickly covers the needle before and after this brief exposure period, reducing the overall time the patient is exposed to the needle and thereby reducing discomfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Reliability

If the device is designed with complex mechanisms for needle retraction and shielding, then safety and sterility are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle safety and sterilityVSAvoidinsertion device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a shield for protection, a needle for insertion, and a cannula for substance delivery. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shield is designed to automatically cover the needle through its own structural design and movement mechanism, without requiring complex external control systems. The simplicity of the shield's movement mechanism reduces overall device complexity while maintaining safety functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the needle is retracted after insertion, then needle exposure risk is reduced, but the insertion process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle exposure after insertionVSAvoidneedle retraction mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is nested within the shield, which provides a simple yet effective retraction mechanism. After insertion, the shield simply moves back to cover the needle, providing passive retraction without requiring complex active mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS7699807B2Device and method for insertion of a cannula of an infusion device

Publication Date: 2010.04.20 ICU MEDICAL INC

AI summary

A device for inserting a cannula of a subcutaneous infusion device into a subcutaneous layer of skin of a patient. For example, some devices automatically retract a needle used to introduce the cannula of a subcutaneous infusion device into the subcutaneous layer of skin of a patient. The device can include a housing with an internal cavity, as well as a needle coupled to the housing. The needle can be coupled to a cannula of a subcutaneous infusion device. A member can move the needle. Upon full introduction of the needle and associated cannula of the subcutaneous infusion device into a subcutaneous layer of skin of a patient, the member is automatically actuated to move the needle into the internal cavity of the housing into the retracted state while leaving the cannula of the subcutaneous infusion device in the subcutaneous layer of skin of the patient.