Puncture Needle Protector with Elastic Deformable Section

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing puncture needle assemblies, such as those described in Patent Document 1, risk unintentional exposure of the needle point due to unintentional pushing forces, leading to potential finger piercing and lack of secure prevention mechanisms for maintaining the needle in a covered state after initial use.

Innovation Solution

A puncture needle assembly with a protector that moves between a first position covering the needle point and a second position exposing it, featuring an engaging section, an engagement preventing member, and biasing means to ensure the protector returns to the first position securely, preventing unintentional exposure by engaging with an elastic deformable section and utilizing a release preventing mechanism to maintain the needle in a safe state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the inside member is pushed toward the base end side against the biasing force of the coil spring, then the needle point can be exposed for injection, but unintentional pushing forces may cause accidental exposure and finger piercing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of needle exposureVSAvoidreliability of needle coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The body is divided into a tubular body section and an elastic deformable section. The elastic deformable section acts as a separate engagement mechanism that can be deformed to allow intentional exposure while preventing accidental exposure through its elastic recovery property.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement preventing member is preliminarily positioned to contact the engaging section and prevent engagement with the elastic deformable section during intentional exposure. This preliminary anti-action ensures that even if pushing force is applied, the needle cannot be accidentally exposed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Device complexity

If a simple spring mechanism is used to bias the protector, then the structure remains simple, but the protector may not reliably return to the covering position after use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of biasing mechanismVSAvoidreliability of protector return
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic deformable section is designed to be dynamically deformable during intentional exposure, then automatically returns to its original state through elastic recovery, providing a reliable self-resetting mechanism that ensures the protector returns to the covering position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic deformable section serves itself by automatically returning to its original shape after being deformed during intentional exposure. This self-service elastic recovery eliminates the need for additional reset mechanisms and ensures reliable return to the safe state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the engaging section can move past the elastic deformable section during intentional exposure, then needle injection is enabled, but the same mechanism may allow accidental exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of needle injectionVSAvoidrisk of accidental finger piercing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement preventing member is preliminarily positioned to block the engaging section from contacting the elastic deformable section during intentional exposure. This preliminary blocking action prevents accidental exposure while allowing intentional injection when the preventing member is properly actuated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement preventing member acts as an intermediary between the engaging section and the elastic deformable section. It controls and mediates the engagement process, allowing intentional exposure while preventing accidental engagement with the elastic deformable section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution effectively prevents unintentional exposure of the needle point, ensuring secure protection and preventing mistaken punctures, even after initial use, by ensuring the protector remains in a position that covers the needle point, thus enhancing user safety.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic deformable section provided on a distal end side relative to the base end portion of the tubular body section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

biasing means biasing the protector in a direction from the second position toward the first position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic restoring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2258427B1Puncture needle assembly and medicinal liquid injector
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 TERUMO KK
  • EP2258427B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2258427B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2258427B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A puncture needle assembly has a needle tube, a protector capable of moving between a first position at which the protector covers the tip of the needle tube and a second position at which the tip is exposed, a body for movably supporting the protector and having an elastic deformable section, and an engagement preventing member removably mounted to the base end of a protector body. The protector has a rib. A portion on the head end side of the rib forms a contact section, and a portion on the base end side of the rib forms an engaging section engaging with the elastic deformable section. When the protector moves from the first position to the second position, the engagement preventing member moves together with the protector to prevent the engaging section from engaging with the elastic deformable section and elastically deforms the elastic deformable section.