Needle Electrode With Displaceable Cover For Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current needle electrodes lack a safety mechanism to shield the needle tip during and after use, posing a risk of infection to healthcare professionals and requiring multiple sizes for different procedures.
Innovation Solution
A needle electrode with a displaceable cover element that can be moved between active and secure positions, featuring a passive safety mechanism to automatically lock the needle in the secure position after use, and adjustable length to accommodate various tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle electrode is discarded without a safety cover, then the procedure is simple and quick, but the risk of needle piercing and infection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cover is pre-positioned on the needle electrode in a secure state. The cover is designed to be automatically activated or easily engaged after use, ensuring protection is already in place before disposal. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for separate safety actions during disposal while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle electrode incorporates an automatic safety mechanism that activates itself after use. The cover can be designed to automatically engage when the needle is removed from the patient or when a specific action is taken, making the safety function self-activating without requiring additional manual intervention from the user.
2Device complexity
If the needle electrode lacks a displaceable cover mechanism, then the structure is simpler, but the ability to shield and unshield the needle multiple times during procedures is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed as a dynamic component that can be displaced between at least two positions: a secure position where the needle tip is covered, and an active position where the needle tip is exposed. This dynamic capability allows the needle to be shielded and unshielded multiple times during procedures while maintaining relatively simple structure through straightforward mechanical displacement mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If the needle electrode has a fixed length, then manufacturing is simpler, but the ability to suit different tasks and procedures is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The needle electrode incorporates an adjustable length mechanism that allows the needle or cover to be displaced to different positions, effectively changing the exposed length of the needle. This dynamic adjustment capability enables a single electrode design to suit multiple tasks and procedures while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized components with variable positioning.
Data Source
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AI summary
A needle electrode (1 ) comprising a base element (4), a needle element (3) mounted on said base element and connection means (5) for connect¬ ing said needle element to external electronic equipment. The needle electrode further comprises a cover element (2) which is displaceable be- tween at least two positions: an "active" position where the tip of the nee¬ dle element (3) is exposed and a "secure" position where the tip of the needle element (3) is hidden within the cover element (2). In this way, the needle electrode (1 ) is provided with a shield (2) whereby the needle ele¬ ment (3) can be shielded after use whereby the user of the needle elec- trade (1 ) is protected from infection. A method of using a needle electrode (1) is also presented. An adjustable length needle electrode (80) is also presented.