Needle Guard With Pivoting Arm For Universal Gauge Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety devices for medical needles are limited in accommodating multiple needle gauges, leading to increased manufacturing costs and the lack of protection during procedures involving introducer sheaths and inner cannulas, which are commonly used in medical procedures.

Innovation Solution

A single needle guard with a transitional member that includes a pivoting arm and a transverse barrier, capable of transitioning from a restrained position to an activated position, allowing it to shield a variety of needle gauges and accommodate both introducer and inner cannulas, thereby preventing accidental needlesticks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If prior safety devices are dimensioned to accommodate a single gauge needle, then protection for that specific needle size is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase and stocking complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device is designed with a transitional member that can accommodate multiple needle gauges through a single universal device. The pivoting arm and transverse barrier mechanism can adapt to different needle sizes, eliminating the need for multiple specialized safety devices for different gauge needles, thus reducing manufacturing costs and stocking complexity while maintaining protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The safety device incorporates a dynamic transitional member with a pivoting arm that can move between restrained and activated positions. This dynamic mechanism allows the device to adapt its configuration to match different needle gauges, providing universal protection across multiple needle sizes without requiring separate static safety devices for each gauge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If prior safety devices are designed for single needle gauge, then specific needle protection is achieved, but adaptability to different needle gauges and cannulas is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle protectionVSAvoidmulti-gauge compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If safety device is advanced over needle tip, then needle shielding is achieved, but risk of accidental needlestick increases during handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle shieldingVSAvoidaccidental needlestick risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device is designed to be self-activating through the needle's own movement. As the needle is advanced into the housing, the needle tip automatically triggers the transitional member to move from restrained to activated position, causing the transverse barrier to form and shield the needle tip without requiring manual intervention. This eliminates the need for practitioners to manually advance the safety device, thereby removing the associated risk of accidental needlesticks during handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The safety device is pre-configured in a restrained position where the transitional member is held back by the pivoting arm. The needle's advancement automatically triggers the transition to the activated shielding position, ensuring protection is established before the needle tip could potentially expose the practitioner during manual handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple safety devices are stocked for different needle gauges, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but device complexity and inventory management increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle gauge coverageVSAvoidinventory management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2227281B1Needle safety device

Publication Date: 2020.02.26 BECTON DICKINSON & CO

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AI summary

A needle guard (12) having a housing (14) defining an interior cavity, and a transitional member (16) disposed within the interior cavity is disclosed. The transitional member includes a pivoting arm (36) having a first end and a second end, the first end adjacent an interior portion of the housing. The transitional member also includes a needle tip sensing element (38), and a transverse barrier (40), such that the needle tip sensing element and the transverse barrier are oriented on opposing sides of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end. The needle guard may be adapted for transition from a restrained position when the needle tip is exterior to the interior cavity, to an activated position when the needle tip is within the interior cavity. The transitional member may also have a needle tip sensing element for contacting a needle in the restrained position, and a binding edge for engaging the needle in the activated position.