Lancet Dispenser Gripping Element for Cap Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users, particularly those with reduced dexterity due to medical conditions like diabetes, face difficulties in retrieving and preparing lancets from loose packaging, leading to potential reuse of lancets, which is hygienically unacceptable and causes discomfort due to bluntness.

Innovation Solution

A medical dispenser with a container body and a gripping element that includes an indentation to securely hold the protective cap, allowing users to easily remove and rotate the lancet handle to expose the needle tip, facilitating safe and hygienic use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If lancets are stored in loose packaging, then storage is simple and accessible, but users with reduced dexterity have difficulty retrieving and preparing lancets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of lancet retrieval and preparationVSAvoidpackaging structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging is segmented into individual compartments, each holding a single lancet in an upright position. This segmentation allows users to access one lancet at a time while maintaining organization, making retrieval easier for individuals with reduced dexterity without requiring complex manual manipulation of loose lancets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging structure serves as an intermediary device that facilitates cap removal. The compartment design allows the cap to be easily grasped and removed, and the lancet can be held securely during the process, acting as a mediator between the user and the lancet preparation task.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the protective cap is small and tightly fitted, then sterile storage is maintained, but cap removal becomes difficult for users with reduced dexterity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterile storage maintenanceVSAvoidcap removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging provides localized support at the cap region through the compartment structure. This local quality enhancement allows the cap to remain tightly fitted for sterile storage while providing a grasping surface and mechanical advantage for removal, solving the contradiction between secure storage and easy access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If lancets are used multiple times, then cost is reduced, but hygiene is compromised and discomfort increases due to bluntness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelancet usage efficiencyVSAvoidhygiene and comfort assurance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging is designed to facilitate complete cap removal and immediate lancet preparation before use. By making the preparation process so easy and intuitive, users are less likely to hesitate or reuse lancets, ensuring each lancet is used only once for hygiene and comfort reasons while maintaining efficient workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8950578B2Lancet dispenser

Publication Date: 2015.02.10 ULTIMED INC

AI summary

Medical dispensers having cap removal feature are disclosed. An illustrative medical dispenser can include a container body having an interior chamber adapted to contain a number of unused medical instruments, and an opening mechanism on the container body for providing access to the contents within the interior chamber. A gripping element on the exterior of the container body can be used to facilitate the removal of a portion of the medical instrument.