Needle Protector With Adjustable Wrapping Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle protection systems fail to securely house and protect needles and tubing during shipping and storage, leading to contamination, damage, and handling issues, as users struggle to maintain caps on needles and prevent contact with sterilized needles.
Innovation Solution
A size-adjustable needle protector with a flexible sleeve and adjustable wrapping strap, featuring a rigid body and needle tip protector, made from medical-grade polymers, which securely houses and protects needles and tubing within an isolator transfer bag, allowing easy handling and storage while preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sheath or cap is provided on the filling needle, then the needle is protected against contamination, breakage, and bending, but users still struggle to keep caps on the needles during handling procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The needle protection system is divided into separate functional components: a rigid body for structural support, a flexible sleeve for protection, and a wrapping strap for secure attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively while being easier to handle as a modular system.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is pre-assembled with the rigid body, flexible sleeve, and wrapping strap before sterilization and shipping. This preliminary assembly ensures that all protective components are in place and properly positioned before the needle reaches the user, eliminating the struggle of keeping caps on during handling procedures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a sheath or cap is provided on the filling needle, then the product bags and containers are protected from being punctured, but needles still become damaged and containers still become damaged during shipping and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sleeve acts as a cushioning layer between the rigid needle components and the external environment during shipping and storage. This beforehand cushioning protects both the needle from damage and prevents the needle from puncturing product bags and containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection system combines different materials with complementary properties: a rigid body (likely rigid plastic or metal) for structural support, a flexible sleeve (likely elastomer or flexible plastic) for cushioning and puncture prevention, and a wrapping strap for secure attachment. This composite material approach addresses both puncture protection and damage prevention during shipping.
3Reliability
If regulations mandate that end users are not allowed to touch the filling needles after sterilization, then contamination is prevented, but users have difficulty not contacting the filling needles during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The wrapping strap serves as an intermediary tool that allows users to handle and install the needle without directly touching the sterilized needle surface. Users can grip and manipulate the strap to position and install the needle, thereby maintaining aseptic conditions while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sleeve acts as a barrier between the user's hands and the sterilized needle. This flexible shell allows users to handle the needle assembly without direct contact with the needle surface, preventing contamination while enabling necessary handling during installation.
4Ease of operation
If a size-adjustable needle protector is used, then secure protection and easy handling are achieved, but the device complexity increases with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple protective functions are merged into a single integrated assembly: the rigid body, flexible sleeve, and wrapping strap are combined into one pre-assembled needle protection system. This merging provides secure protection and easy handling while minimizing the number of separate components the user must manage.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapping strap serves multiple functions: it secures the flexible sleeve to the rigid body, provides a grip surface for users during handling, and can be adjusted to accommodate different needle sizes. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by using a single component for multiple purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A needle protector, having a flexible material, a pocket defining an internal volume, a wrapping strap having a plurality of holes, and a main body disposed between the pocket and the wrapping strap; at least one rigid body or cylinder for placement within the internal volume; and; a pin for placement within one of the plurality of holes, wherein the pin is capable of releasably locking the pocket and the main body when the wrapping strap is wrapped around the pocket and the main body.