Needle Safety Device with Sliding Closure and Activation Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle safety devices are insufficient in terms of security and ease of use, often requiring significant force to withdraw the needle and can cause skin pinching or lateral force on the needle due to their design, and may not adequately prevent the needle tip from slipping out of the safety device.
Innovation Solution
A needle with a safety device that slides along the shaft from a proximal to a distal position, featuring a closure element that cooperates with an activation element on the needle shaft to securely enclose the needle tip within a housing, allowing easy movement and activation without additional resistance, ensuring the tip is safely enclosed after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety device with flexible sheets is used to surround the needle, then the needle tip is protected, but significant force is required to withdraw the needle and skin pinching may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device transitions from an open to a closed state dynamically during needle withdrawal. The housing moves along the needle shaft and the closure element automatically closes the distal opening when the needle tip is enclosed, providing protection only when needed without interfering with initial withdrawal
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device is divided into functional segments: a movable housing that slides along the needle shaft, a closure element that seals the distal opening, and an activation element that triggers the closing action. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently without creating excessive resistance
2Reliability
If a spring-loaded clip applies lateral force against the needle shaft to activate the safety device, then the needle tip is enclosed, but the force required to withdraw the needle is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device activates automatically through the needle's own movement. The activation element is engaged by the needle shaft itself during withdrawal, converting the withdrawal motion into the closing action without requiring additional lateral force or complex spring mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying lateral force to activate the closure, the invention uses the axial withdrawal motion to trigger the closing action. The closure element is moved from a lateral closing approach to an axial engagement approach, eliminating the need for counteracting lateral forces
3Reliability
If a stopper is provided to prevent the needle tip from slipping out of the safety device, then the needle tip is secured, but the device complexity increases and the needle must be of substantial length
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element serves dual functions: it closes the distal opening to prevent needle tip exposure and simultaneously acts as a stopper to prevent needle tip slippage. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate stopper mechanisms and reduces overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element is designed to perform multiple functions within a single component structure. It provides both the sealing function to protect the needle tip and the mechanical stop function to prevent slippage, making the safety device more compact and less complex
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a needle (10) having a distal end (11), a proximal end (12), and a stem (13) extending therebetween, as well as a tip (14) at the distal end (11) thereof. The needle (10) is provided with a safety device (20), said device being arranged so as to be capable of sliding over the stem (13) between a first position in the proximal area of the stem (13) and a second position at the distal end (11) of the stem. The safety device also includes a recess (21, 22) having a proximal opening (23) and a distal opening (24) for the needle stem to pass therethrough, the tip (14) of the needle being inside the recess when the safety device is in the second position. The device includes a closing device (30) that closes the distal opening (24) of the recess when the needle tip is inside the recess.