External Needle Guide and Anchor for Accurate Vessel Cannulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for accessing vessels for medical treatments like dialysis and chemotherapy often result in repeated vessel damage due to inaccurate needle placement, requiring multiple attempts and causing discomfort, and the use of adhesives to secure needles can lead to hematoma and tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
External needle guides and anchors that facilitate accurate needle placement and securement, preventing vessel damage by stabilizing the needle after insertion, allowing self-cannulation with one hand, and minimizing tissue trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection or feel methods are used to identify vessels, then vessel access can be obtained, but multiple attempts are required causing vessel damage
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary vessel localization through tactile feedback mechanisms before needle insertion. The palpable structure allows the user to identify the vessel location and depth beforehand, enabling a single accurate puncture attempt that prevents repeated vessel damage.
2Reliability
If large amounts of tape/adhesive are used to secure the needle, then needle security is improved, but tissue damage and hematoma risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts the needle from the traditional open-space configuration and constrains it within a dedicated housing structure. The housing includes a retention mechanism that secures the needle through mechanical engagement rather than adhesive, eliminating the need for large amounts of tape and associated tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves as an intermediary between the needle and the patient's body. It provides a secure mounting platform with integrated retention features that hold the needle in place without requiring adhesive applied directly to the skin, thereby preventing tissue damage and hematoma formation.
3Productivity
If repeated punctures are performed at the same location, then dialysis treatment can be maintained, but vessel failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables preliminary assessment of vessel depth and angle through tactile feedback before each puncture. This allows for accurate needle placement on subsequent treatments, maintaining consistent access at the same location without compromising vessel integrity through improper puncture technique.
Solution Approach 2:
The device replaces manual needle insertion techniques with a structured housing system that guides and constrains the needle. This mechanical guidance system ensures consistent, accurate punctures that maintain vessel integrity over repeated treatments, enabling long-term dialysis access without vessel failure.
Data Source
AI summary
An external needle guide can include a skin contact portion for attaching to skin of a patient and a needle guide portion for guiding a needle into a vessel of the patient. The external needle guide provides an accurate placement of a needle into the vessel (e.g., a good puncture), which reduces the failures of the vessel. Furthermore, because of the accurate placement of the needles and the ease of placement of the external needle guide, a patient and/or another person can insert the needles into the vessel with one hand. An external needle guide can also include an anchor portion that secures a needle to the external needle guide, preventing unwanted movement of the needle and damage to the vessel.