Needle Guard Locking Mechanism for Injection Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle guard devices for injection devices do not reliably prevent accidental contact with used injection needles, as they often require external force to lock into a guard position and may not prevent contamination if not fully retracted.
Innovation Solution
A needle guard device with an early-triggering mechanism that locks automatically after a partial releasing stroke, ensuring the needle guard cannot move back into its initial position without external force, and includes a locking mechanism that surrounds the injection needle to prevent access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the needle guard is designed to lock automatically at a triggering position during retraction, then reliability of needle protection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard device performs the locking action automatically during its own retraction movement without requiring external intervention. The elastic force that drives retraction also triggers the locking mechanism when the guard reaches the triggering position, making the system self-sufficient and improving reliability while avoiding complex external control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to engage at a triggering position that is reached during the retraction stroke, before the needle guard completes its full retraction. This preliminary locking action ensures the needle is protected early in the process, and the locking elements are positioned to engage automatically as the guard passes through the triggering position
2Device complexity
If the needle guard requires external force to lock into guard position, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of needle protection deteriorates as the guard may not lock reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own retraction movement and the elastic force driving that movement to trigger the locking action. The needle guard's backward movement automatically engages the locking elements with the lock mechanism, eliminating the need for separate external locking actions while ensuring reliable engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism provides mechanical feedback through the engagement of locking elements and lock surfaces. When the needle guard reaches the triggering position during retraction, the geometry of the components causes automatic engagement, and the locked state is maintained through mechanical interference that prevents further movement until deliberately released
3Reliability
If the locking mechanism surrounds the injection needle, then needle protection reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted access
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard is designed to be dynamically positioned - covering the needle during storage and transport, then retracting during injection to allow needle access. The locking mechanism engages only after the guard has retracted to the triggering position, ensuring the needle is accessible during the injection process while maintaining protection during storage and after use
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The needle guard device effectively prevents accidental contact and contamination by ensuring the needle is securely locked in the guard position after use, even if not fully retracted, enhancing user safety and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
the needle guard is subjected to an elastic force of a rebounding element and moves in the distal direction again
Data Source
AI summary
A needle protection device for use with an injection device, the needle protection device including a moveable needle protection element which moves through a release course of movement into a locking engagement position as a result of an elastic force, the locking engagement position being achieved when the needle protection element moves from a starting position to a triggering position, when the needle protection element moves over a small portion of the release course, and being maintained when the needle protection element is no longer subjected to an external force in the triggering position.