Rotating Needle Bending Assembly for Precise Sterile Tip Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for bending needles, such as spinal and biopsy needles, are prone to inexact and non-reproducible bends, risk unintentional needlestick injuries, and require additional surgical tools and sterilization cycles, which increase costs and procedural time.
Innovation Solution
A needle bending assembly comprising a first and second housing section with a coupling element that allows for controlled bending of the needle by rotating the second housing section relative to the first, enabling precise and reproducible bending within a sterile packaging system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a needle driver is used to pinch and bend the needle tip, then the needle can be bent, but the bend is inexact and non-reproducible
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a first housing section and a second housing section that can rotate relative to each other. This segmentation allows the bending mechanism to be distributed across two separable components, enabling precise control of the bending action while maintaining device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is pre-positioned within the housing sections before bending occurs. The first housing section holds the proximal portion and the second housing section holds the distal portion, ensuring the needle is correctly positioned for a precise and reproducible bend at the intended location.
2Reliability
If manual bending with gloved hands is used, then the needle can be bent, but there is risk of loss of sterilization and needlestick injury
Solution Approach 1:
The housing sections act as an intermediary device between the user and the needle. The user manipulates the external surfaces of the housing sections, which transmit force through the coupling element to bend the needle indirectly, eliminating direct contact with the needle tip and maintaining sterilization while preventing needlestick injuries.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing sections provide a protective barrier around the needle before and during the bending operation. This pre-established protective enclosure prevents direct exposure to the sharp needle tip, cushioning against potential needlestick injuries while allowing controlled manipulation.
3Manufacturing precision
If a needle sheath or cap is used to bend the needle, then the needle can be bent, but the control is coarse and imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the housing into two rotatable sections provides precise angular control over the bending action. Each section can be independently positioned, allowing fine adjustment of the bend angle and direction, achieving high precision without requiring a complex multi-component device.
4Force
If forces are applied to bend a needle containing a stylet, then the needle can be bent, but the forces may exceed those achievable by finger pressure alone
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element provides a mechanical advantage through its rotational mechanism. By rotating the second housing section relative to the first, the system dynamically amplifies the input force applied by the user, generating sufficient bending force to deform the stiff needle-stylet assembly without requiring excessive manual effort.
Data Source
AI summary
A needle bending assembly configured to at least temporarily contain a needle can include a first housing section, a second housing section, and a coupling element coupled between the first housing section and the second housing section. The first housing section defines a first cavity configured to at least temporarily contain a first section of the needle. The second housing section defines a second cavity configured to at least temporarily contain a second section of the needle forming a distal tip. The coupling element is configured such that when the needle is contained within the housing sections, movement of the second housing section relative to the first housing section results in a bending of the needle at a location corresponding to the coupling element.