Infusion Needle Guard with Sliding Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insertion devices for subcutaneous infusion sets pose risks of unintended harmful injuries due to exposed needles during and after use, and current solutions often require cumbersome assembly or complex maneuvering for needle coverage.

Innovation Solution

An insertion device with a hub and guard mechanism that allows quick and secure coverage of the needle using a sliding motion, featuring a handle part and guard part that engage a locking mechanism to house the needle within a recess, preventing exposure and injury.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate shield piece is used to cover the needle, then the needle can be covered, but the device requires cumbersome assembly of separate pieces which takes additional time and space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle exposure riskVSAvoidassembly of separate pieces

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is integrated into the hub as a single piece structure. The hub includes a body portion and a shield portion that are formed as one unified component, eliminating the need to assemble separate shield and hub pieces. This integration maintains needle coverage functionality while removing the cumbersome assembly step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hub is segmented into functional zones: a body portion for holding the needle and an infusion set, and a shield portion that can move relative to the body portion. This segmentation allows the shield to independently cover the needle while remaining part of the unified hub structure, enabling safe operation without complex assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a pivotable shield is used to cover the needle, then the needle can be covered, but the device requires complicated maneuvering to cover and secure the needle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle exposure riskVSAvoidmaneuvering to cover needle

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shield portion is designed to be movable relative to the body portion through a sliding mechanism. The shield can be easily moved from an exposed position to a covering position by simple linear motion, and a locking mechanism secures it in the covering position. This dynamic design replaces complicated pivotable maneuvering with simple, intuitive sliding motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the insertion device is discarded after use, then the infusion set can be removed, but there remain potential risks of unintended harm from the sharp end to the user or others

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisposal efficiencyVSAvoidsharp end injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is designed to cover the needle automatically or through simple manual action before disposal. The locking mechanism ensures the shield remains secured in the covering position during the entire disposal process, preventing any unintended exposure of the sharp needle end to users or others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9333294B2Insertion device

Publication Date: 2016.05.10 MEDTRONIC MINIMED INC

AI summary

An insertion device, generally used with an infusion set, including a needle being adapted for puncturing at one end and including at the opposite end a hub. The hub includes a handle part and a guard part that are capable of securing the needle through the use of locks. Locking structures are used to secure the insertion device in a position where the needle is covered in a locked position, avoiding unintended contact with the needle.