Safety IV Catheter Needle Guard Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IV catheter assemblies pose a risk of accidental needle stick injuries to clinicians due to exposed needle tips, with current needle tip protectors being costly, difficult to use, and ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A safety IV catheter assembly featuring a needle guard assembly with a resilient material, a biasing member, and a bushing that automatically moves to obstruct the needle tip, preventing withdrawal and ensuring the needle remains guarded after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If needle tip protectors are used to protect clinicians from needle stick injuries, then clinician safety is improved, but cost and ease of use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard assembly automatically activates itself through the withdrawal motion of the needle. As the needle is pulled back, the resilient leg deflects and engages with the needle tip, self-aligning and securing the guard without requiring any additional manual intervention from the clinician. This eliminates the need for separate activation steps while maintaining protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle guard incorporates a resilient leg that dynamically adjusts its position based on needle movement. The leg deflects during needle insertion and withdrawal, then springs into place to engage the needle tip in the guarded state. This dynamic response ensures the guard is activated precisely when needed without requiring manual manipulation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If needle tip protectors are used to protect clinicians from needle stick injuries, then clinician safety is improved, but production cost deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard assembly is divided into separate functional components: a guard body, a resilient leg, and a biasing member. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simple processes, then assembled together. The modular design reduces manufacturing complexity and material costs compared to monolithic protectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle guard assembly is designed as a disposable component integrated with the IV catheter. It uses inexpensive materials such as resilient polymer or metal for the leg and basic spring mechanisms for biasing. The low-cost design is acceptable since the entire assembly is discarded after single use, eliminating the need for expensive reusable protectors.
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 protects clinicians from needle stick injuries by ensuring the needle tip is securely guarded after use, enhancing safety and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a needle guard assembly including a needle guard having a body portion including a proximal wall defining a guard bore and first and second legs extending distally from the proximal wall. At least one of the legs has a radially extending portion and the first and second legs are movable from an unguarded position wherein the needle is positioned between the first and second legs and a guarded position wherein the radially extending portion is positioned distally of the needle tip to obstruct distal movement of the needle.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety IV catheter assembly is disclosed which includes a catheter assembly, a needle assembly and a needle guard assembly. The needle guard assembly includes a needle guard, a biasing member and a bushing. The bushing is slidably positioned about the needle and includes an inner diameter which is smaller than an enlarged diameter portion of the needle such that the needle cannot be withdrawn through the bore of the bushing.