Safety Needle Guard Inversion Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle tip protectors for intravenous catheters are not adequately cost-effective, easy to use, and provide insufficient protection against accidental needle sticks, posing a risk of blood-borne pathogen transmission to clinicians.
Innovation Solution
A needle guard mechanism that automatically inverts over the needle tip upon withdrawal, utilizing an enlarged diameter portion of the needle to engage with the guard's smaller distal end, ensuring secure coverage of the sharpened tip, with optional features like a conical throughbore and cutouts for enhanced retention, and materials such as transparent polymers for flashback visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If needle tip protectors are added to intravenous catheters, then protection against accidental needle sticks is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard is nested within the catheter hub receptacle during assembly, with the needle passing through the guard's longitudinal bore. The guard is positioned such that its proximal end rests against the distal surface of the hub while its distal end extends beyond the needle tip, creating a compact integrated structure that provides protection without adding significant complexity to the overall device
Solution Approach 2:
The needle guard is divided into distinct functional zones: a conical distal end for initial engagement and coverage of the needle tip, a cylindrical midsection with a longitudinal bore for needle passage, and a proximal flared end for engagement with retention features in the hub. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall simplicity
2Reliability
If needle tip protectors are added to intravenous catheters, then protection against accidental needle sticks is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard is manufactured as a single homogeneous piece from medical-grade polymer material, eliminating the need for assembly of multiple components. This monolithic construction reduces manufacturing steps, minimizes quality control requirements, and lowers overall production cost while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The needle guard serves multiple functions simultaneously: it covers the needle tip to prevent accidental sticks, provides a structural framework for engagement with the hub retention features, and maintains needle accessibility during insertion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby lowering manufacturing cost
3Reliability
If an enlarged diameter portion is added to the needle for guard engagement, then retention of the needle guard is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The needle incorporates an enlarged diameter portion (such as a crimp or annular ridge) that changes the dimensional parameter of the needle shaft at a specific location. This localized parameter change provides a positive engagement feature for the needle guard without requiring high-precision manufacturing throughout the entire needle, as only the enlarged portion needs to match the guard's engagement geometry
Data Source
AI summary
A safety needle assembly is disclosed which includes a a needle assembly and a needle guard. The needle guard is supported about a needle of the needle assembly and is positioned to engage an enlarged diameter portion of the needle during withdrawal of the needle guard from the needle to effect an inversion of the needle guard about a sharpened tip of the needle.