Inverted Bevel Needle Hub for Intravenous Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intravenous therapy systems with smaller gauge needles and catheters face challenges during insertion, as the bevel on the needle can cause the distal end to 'dive' deeper into the body, leading to blood vessel trauma and clogging issues, especially when attempting to access veins for infusion or blood withdrawal.

Innovation Solution

An intravenous therapy system featuring a housing with a needle hub and catheter hub, an inflatable bladder to maintain the catheter in place, a visual indicator for vein access confirmation, and an adhesive system for secure attachment and easy removal, along with a bistable locking mechanism to facilitate smooth insertion and withdrawal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a bevel is formed on the distal end of the needle to facilitate skin interface, then insertion is facilitated, but the distal end dives deeper into the patient causing blood vessel trauma

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion facilitationVSAvoidblood vessel trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bevel is inverted so that the acute angle faces toward the skin surface rather than away from it. This reversal allows the needle to penetrate the skin at the correct angle without the distal end diving too deeply into the blood vessel, thus maintaining ease of insertion while preventing blood vessel trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Length of moving object

If the insertion angle is lowered to combat needle diving, then deeper insertion is achieved, but the needle bends more easily in smaller gauge needles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion depthVSAvoidneedle bending resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the bevel orientation, the needle maintains its structural strength and resists bending during insertion. The inverted bevel geometry allows the needle to penetrate at the appropriate angle without requiring the clinician to lower the insertion angle, thereby preventing excessive bending in smaller gauge needles while still achieving adequate insertion depth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If the distal end of the needle is positioned at a 20-degree angle within the vein, then insertion is completed, but the needle does not straighten out causing trauma

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion completionVSAvoidblood vessel trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inverted bevel orientation ensures that when the needle is positioned at approximately a 20-degree angle within the vein to complete insertion, the needle shaft remains straight and does not bend. This prevents the needle from digging into the back wall of the blood vessel, thereby completing insertion while avoiding blood vessel trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Productivity

If vacuum is created within the intravenous therapy system for blood withdrawal, then blood flow is enhanced, but the distal end of the needle becomes clogged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood withdrawal efficiencyVSAvoidfluid passage畅通

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the bevel orientation, the needle geometry prevents blood from adhering to the inner surface of the needle during vacuum-based blood withdrawal. This eliminates clogging of the distal end while maintaining effective blood flow enhancement through the vacuum, thus improving both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 system minimizes physical and mental trauma to the patient by ensuring stable and secure access to blood vessels, reducing the risk of trauma and clogging, while allowing for efficient infusion and blood withdrawal processes.

Implementation Method 1

an inflatable bladder formed along a length of the catheter to maintain the catheter in the patient's body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

an adhesive formed on a bottom surface of the housing to secure the intravenous therapy system to a skin of the patient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS11850381B2Intravenous therapy system having a needle hub and catheter hub

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 BECTON DICKINSON & CO

AI summary

An intravenous therapy system may include a housing to house an actuation hub, the actuation hub comprising; a needle hub operatively coupled to a needle to insert the needle into a patient's body; and a catheter hub operatively coupled to a catheter to insert the catheter into a patient's body, the catheter being formed coaxially with an outer surface of the needle; and an inflatable bladder formed along a length of the catheter to maintain the catheter in the patient's body.