Needle Changing Apparatus with Rotating Storage and Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medicament delivery devices, such as pen injection devices, require users to manually remove and replace needles for each injection, which is cumbersome and poses a risk of accidental needlesticks, and lack a convenient method for storing multiple needles before and after use.
Innovation Solution
A needle changing and storage apparatus with an inner housing, reservoir, and needle holder that allows for the selection, exposure, and re-sheathing of multiple needles, integrated with a medicament delivery device, enabling efficient needle management and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually remove and replace needles for each injection, then the device can be used for multiple injections, but the process is cumbersome and poses a risk of accidental needlesticks
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus contains multiple needles nested within an inner housing, with each needle stored in sequence. The outer housing rotates to select a specific needle, and the selected needle is exposed through a shield mechanism. This nested structure allows multiple needles to be stored compactly while protecting them until use, eliminating the need for manual removal and replacement of individual needles.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple needles are pre-loaded into the apparatus in a sterile state before use. The user can rotate the outer housing to select the desired needle in advance, and the shield automatically protects the exposed needle when not in use. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for manual needle handling at the time of injection, reducing the risk of accidental needlesticks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple needles are stored in the apparatus, then needle management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus serves multiple functions: it stores multiple needles, allows selection of specific needles through rotation, provides automatic shielding when not in use, and maintains sterility. The inner housing rotates to present different needles, while the shield simultaneously protects the exposed needle. This multi-functionality is achieved through a compact integrated design rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus uses a nested structure where the inner housing containing multiple needles is positioned within the outer housing. The shield is integrated into the outer housing and moves to cover or expose the needle as needed. This nesting approach allows multiple functional elements to coexist in a compact form factor without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the needle is exposed for injection, then the injection process is simplified, but the risk of accidental needlesticks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is positioned to automatically cover the needle when the apparatus is not in use. Before injection, the user rotates the outer housing to select and expose the desired needle. The shield mechanism is pre-configured to move into position to cover the needle after use, providing automatic protection without requiring manual intervention. This preliminary setup ensures the needle is protected during storage and transport while being easily accessible when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus is disclosed for storing and changing needles for connection with a medicament delivery device, comprising an inner housing, a reservoir disposed within the inner housing, and a needle holder disposed within the inner housing, for fluidly connecting a medicament container of the medicament delivery device with the reservoir. The apparatus also includes a plurality of patient needles displaceably disposed on the needle, holder, and an outer housing displaceably disposed about the inner housing and providing a user interface to individually select one of the plurality of patient needles, connect the selected needle with the reservoir, expose the selected needle outside of the apparatus for injection, and store the selected needle.