Needle Bending Assembly for Precise Reproducible Tip Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for bending medical needles, such as spinal and biopsy needles, are prone to inexact bends, risk needlestick injuries, and require additional tools and sterilization, while pre-bent needles are costly and lack flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A needle bending assembly comprising a first and second housing section with a coupling element that allows controlled bending of the needle by relative movement of the sections, enabling precise and reproducible bends without additional tools.
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 move relative to each other. This segmentation allows independent control of the bending force application point and the needle grip, enabling precise and reproducible bends while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A fulcrum is introduced as an intermediary element between the moving housing section and the needle. The fulcrum provides a fixed pivot point that ensures consistent bending geometry and precision across multiple uses, while the housing sections provide the necessary mechanical advantage for bending.
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 device allows the needle to bend itself through the mechanical action of moving the second housing section relative to the first. The needle acts as part of the bending mechanism, pivoting on the fulcrum, which eliminates the need for direct manual manipulation and reduces infection and injury risks while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If pre-bent needles are used, then the bend precision is improved, but the cost increases and procedural flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables dynamic adjustment of the bend angle and direction by controlling the movement of the second housing section relative to the first. This allows the same needle to be bent to different angles as needed for different procedural requirements, providing adaptability while maintaining precision, unlike fixed pre-bent needles.
4Ease of operation
If a needle sheath is used for bending, then the needle can be bent, but the control is coarse and precision is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces the coarse mechanical control of a needle sheath with a more precise mechanical system involving two independently controllable housing sections and a fulcrum. This allows for finer control over the bending process while maintaining ease of operation through the intuitive sliding motion of the housing sections.
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.