Safe Insulin Pen Needle Check Flange Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional safe insulin pen needles face issues with automatic protection failure due to user rotation during needle removal and expose users to risk from the bare needle tail end.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a needle head protector with a first clamping column and guide groove system, including a check flange to prevent re-entry into the initial fixing section, and a needle tail protector with a second clamping column and guide groove system, both utilizing springs for automatic protection and featuring check flanges to ensure reliable coverage of the needle tips.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a trigger protector is used for automatic needle protection, then needle head safety is improved, but the protection fails when users rotate the pen during needle removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic protection reliabilityVSAvoiduser rotation operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The check flange is designed to preemptively block the clamping column from returning to the initial fixing position, preventing the harmful effect of rotation-induced protection failure before it can occur. The check flange creates a physical barrier that anticipates and counters the user's rotation action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The guide groove and check flange create an asymmetric structure where the clamping column can move freely in one direction (into the guide groove for protection) but is blocked in the reverse direction (by the check flange). This asymmetric design allows automatic protection while preventing rotation-induced failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If only a needle head protector is provided, then needle head safety is improved, but the needle tail end remains exposed and dangerous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneedle head protectionVSAvoidneedle tail injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protection system is divided into two independent segments: a needle head protector and a needle tail protector. Each segment independently protects its respective portion of the needle, allowing the system to address both the needle head and needle tail safety issues simultaneously through separate protective mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Extent of automation

If the clamping column can freely move along the guide groove, then automatic protection is achieved, but rotation allows the column to return to the initial position causing protection failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic protection mechanismVSAvoidprotection consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The check flange is positioned to preemptively block the clamping column's potential return path, preventing rotation-induced protection failure before it can occur. This preliminary barrier ensures that the automated protection mechanism remains reliable even when users rotate the pen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The check flange acts as an intermediary element between the clamping column and the initial fixing position, allowing the clamping column to move freely into the guide groove for protection while blocking its return path. This intermediary structure mediates between the automated protection function and the prevention of rotation-induced failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution effectively prevents automatic protection failure and ensures safe coverage of both the needle head and tail, enhancing user safety by maintaining protection even during rotation and separation processes.

Implementation Method 1

under the action of the elastic force of the first spring, the needle head protector moves axially relative to the needle hub

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

under the action of the elastic force of the second spring, the needle tail protector moves axially relative to the needle hub

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3626290B1Safe insulin pen needle
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 PROMISEMED HANGZHOU MEDITECH
  • EP3626290B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3626290B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3626290B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to the technical field of a medical device, in particular to a safe insulin pen needle for injecting insulin. The safe insulin pen needle having the above structure effectively circumvents the risk of the needle head protection failure caused by the rotation of the insulin pen during the needle pulling process by some users through a first check flange on one side of a first initial fixing position matched with a first elastic clamping jaw; effectively circumvents the safety risk that the needle tail tends to damage the user through the needle tail protection structure; at the same time, effectively circumvents the risk that the needle tail protector will rotate and thus the needle tail protection will fail during the separation of the insulin pen from the insulin pen needle through a second check flange on one side of a second initial fixing position matched with a second elastic clamping jaw.