Detachable Needle Array Lock-Out for Single-Use Electroporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical treatments using needle-like instruments, such as electroporation devices, pose safety risks due to cross-contamination and needle sticks, as these instruments become contaminated during use and are difficult to manage independently.
Innovation Solution
A detachable needle array with independent lock-out mechanisms for needles and electrodes, allowing safe and controlled use by locking out specific subsets after each use, preventing re-emergence and minimizing contact with patients and clinicians.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single integrated needle assembly is used for both injection and electroporation, then device complexity is reduced, but cross-contamination and needle stick risks increase because the same needle cannot be safely used for different purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a hypodermic needle assembly for injection and a separate electrode array for electroporation. This segmentation allows each component to be independently locked out after use, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design
2Productivity
If multiple sharps are used at different stages of the procedure, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but safety risks increase due to the need for multiple needle changes and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The hypodermic needle is pre-loaded into the array body before the procedure begins. After injection, the needle is automatically locked out by the auto-lock mechanism, preventing accidental reuse. This preliminary positioning and automatic locking reduces safety risks associated with multiple needle handling while maintaining treatment effectiveness
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an auto-lock mechanism is implemented to prevent needle re-emergence, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional locking components
Solution Approach 1:
The auto-lock mechanism is designed to automatically engage when the shroud is biased from the rest position to the actuated position and back. The spring-loaded system self-activates based on the shroud's movement, eliminating the need for manual locking operations and reducing overall device complexity despite the added safety functionality
Data Source
AI summary
An electroporation device with a needle array removably attached thereto, the needle array having a body, a shroud movable with respect to the body between a rest position and one or more actuated positions, and an auto-lock assembly. Where the auto-lock assembly is adjustable between a locked configuration, where the shroud is not movable with respect to the body, and an unlocked configuration, where the shroud is movable with respect to the body, and where biasing the shroud from the rest position to the one or more actuated positions and back to the rest position adjusts the auto-lock from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration.