Safety IV Catheter Needle Tilt Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing IV catheter assemblies do not adequately protect clinicians from accidental needle stick injuries, as current needle tip protectors are not cost-effective, easy to use, or sufficiently effective in preventing exposure to blood-borne pathogens.

Innovation Solution

A safety IV catheter assembly featuring a needle assembly, catheter assembly, and a safety device with a housing and biasing member that compresses between the needle and housing in an assembled state, tilting to misalign the needle when disassembled and preventing its retraction, utilizing a resilient material like spring steel and a blocking arm to secure the needle within the housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If needle tip protectors are added to IV catheter assemblies, then clinician protection from needle stick injuries is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle stick injury riskVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device is integrated into the catheter assembly by positioning it between the needle hub and catheter hub, combining the protective function with the existing catheter structure rather than adding a separate protector device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The biasing member automatically activates the safety mechanism when the needle is withdrawn from the catheter, causing the housing to tilt and block the needle tip without requiring manual intervention from the clinician

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If needle tip protectors are added to IV catheter assemblies, then clinician protection from needle stick injuries is improved, but ease of use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle stick injury riskVSAvoidease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device activates automatically through the natural motion of withdrawing the needle from the catheter, which compresses the biasing member and triggers the tilting mechanism without requiring the clinician to manually activate any safety features

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The biasing member is pre-positioned and pre-loaded during assembly, so that the protective action is ready to occur immediately when the needle is withdrawn, eliminating the need for additional steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If complex needle tip protectors are designed, then protection effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle stick injury riskVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device is divided into simple, discrete components including a housing with opening, a biasing member with stationary and movable portions, and a blocking arm, each of which can be manufactured separately using standard processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The safety device is designed as a single-use, disposable component that is integrated into the catheter assembly, eliminating the need for expensive, reusable protective devices while maintaining effective protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 accidental needle stick injuries by securely housing the needle tip, enhancing safety and ease of use while being economical to produce, thus reducing the risk of blood-borne pathogen transmission.

Implementation Method 1

the biasing member is compressed between the needle and the housing such that the movable portion is in the first position in engagement with the needle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a resilient material like spring steel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2766074B1Safety iv catheter assembly

Publication Date: 2020.04.08 KPR U S LLC

Figure 1
Figure 1A~3A
Figure 3

AI summary

A safety intravenous (IV) catheter assembly is disclosed which includes a safety device having a housing (714) defining a cavity (731) and distal (724) and proximal (726) openings, and a biasing member (716) positioned within the cavity. The biasing member is movable from a first position to a second position to tilt the housing in relation to a needle (718) when the needle tip is withdrawn through the distal opening of the housing to misalign the needle tip and the distal opening. A blocking arm (716c) is provided on the biasing member to prevent the biasing member from moving from the second position back to the first position.