Needle Removal and Storage for Complete Holder Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical needle removal devices leave a portion of the needle in the needle holder, posing a risk of needle-stick injury and requiring the needle holder to be disposed of as medical waste, which cannot be recycled.
Innovation Solution
A device with a grasping unit, receiving unit, biasing member, and separating means that allows for the complete separation of the needle from the needle holder by grasping and heating or weakening the adhesive connection, followed by storage of the separated needle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing needle removal devices are used, then the needle can be removed from the holder, but a portion of the needle remains in the holder creating safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the needle completely from the holder by using a removal tool that engages the needle shaft and pulls it entirely out, separating it from the holder without leaving any portion behind. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring complete extraction of the hazardous element.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the needle removal process into distinct phases: engagement with the needle shaft, complete extraction from the holder, and separate storage. This segmentation ensures that the needle is fully removed and can be properly disposed of, eliminating the safety hazard of retained needle portions.
2Reliability
If existing needle removal devices are used, then the needle can be removed, but the entire holder must be disposed of as medical waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the needle from the holder while leaving the holder intact and reusable. The holder is designed to be separated from the needle and can be cleaned and reused for future injections, thereby reducing medical waste without compromising needle removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables recovery and reuse of the holder component. After needle removal, the holder can be cleaned, sterilized, and reused multiple times, significantly reducing the amount of medical waste generated while maintaining reliable needle removal functionality.
3Ease of operation
If heat is applied to separate the needle from the holder, then the adhesive is weakened, but energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal separation methods with a mechanical removal approach. A removal tool with an engagement element mechanically engages the needle shaft and pulls it out of the holder, eliminating the need for heating and associated energy consumption while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder is designed with a needle shaft engagement feature that allows for easy mechanical removal without additional energy input. The needle can be self-removed by the user through simple manual manipulation, eliminating the need for external heating energy.
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
Ensures safe removal and storage of the entire needle, eliminating the risk of needle-stick injury and enabling recycling of the needle holder.
Implementation Method 1
heating the needle to melt, soften, or otherwise weaken a material and/or adhesive connecting the needle with the needle holder
Implementation Method 2
a biasing member biasing the receiving unit in a first direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus (100, 170, 180, 240, 270, 320, 400, 480, 580, 750) for removing a needle (10, 40) from a needle holder (20, 50), including a grasping unit (104, 216, 248, 280, 324, 452, 508, 592, 764) for selectively grasping the needle (10, 40); a receiving unit (108, 172, 204, 268, 272, 340, 416, 540, 584, 752) for receiving the needle holder (20, 50), displaceably disposed relative to the grasping unit (104, 216, 248, 280, 324, 452, 508, 592, 764); a biasing member (112, 276, 588, 768) biasing the receiving unit (108, 172, 204, 268, 272, 340, 416, 540, 584, 752) in a first direction; and separating means (150, 182, 310, 390, 458, 558, 600, 740) for separating the entire needle (10, 40) from the needle holder (20, 50). Preferably, the needle (10, 40) is heated to melt, soften, or otherwise weaken a material and/or adhesive connecting the needle (10, 40) with the needle holder (20, 50). Preferably the heating is electrical heating, including completing an electrical circuit (152, 188, 246, 308, 392, 462, 560, 604) through the needle (10, 40) and passing current through the needle (10, 40), and/or passing current through a heating element (184; 432; 468,472; 488, 492;616).