Needle Safety Device with Elastic Jaw Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle safety devices do not provide adequate protection against accidental pricking and may fail to secure the needle tip after a longer shelf life or during use, leading to potential exposure.
Innovation Solution
A needle safety device with an elastic element surrounding the jaws, which exerts a restoring force to snap the jaws shut upon needle withdrawal, ensuring continuous protection and secure locking within a medical device housing, featuring a tension ring and link for enhanced functionality and material options for cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the jaws are made resilient to allow needle insertion, then the needle can pass through the device, but the jaws may become loose and fail to guard the needle tip after removal
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic element changes the physical state of the jaws from a loose resilient state during insertion to a tightly closed state after needle removal. The elastic element exerts continuous restoring force that maintains the jaws in a closed position, preventing them from becoming loose over time or during storage.
2Reliability
If the jaws are held tightly closed to prevent accidental pricking, then protection is improved, but the needle cannot be inserted or withdrawn from the device
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between two states: during needle insertion/withdrawal, the jaws are forced apart by the needle's movement, allowing passage; once the needle is removed, the elastic element's restoring force automatically returns the jaws to their closed protective state. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between protection and operability.
3Device complexity
If no elastic element is used, then the device structure is simpler, but the jaws fail to snap shut reliably after needle withdrawal, especially after longer shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic element provides self-service by automatically generating the restoring force needed to snap the jaws shut without requiring external power sources, motors, or complex control systems. The elastic element's inherent mechanical properties enable the jaws to return to their closed position reliably, even after extended storage periods.
4Device complexity
If the elastic element covers only a small portion of the jaws, then the device is simpler and cheaper, but the jaws can still become loose and the needle tip may protrude sideways
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic element functions as a flexible constraining structure that envelops the jaws over a substantial portion of their length. This flexible element applies continuous radial pressure to keep the jaws closed and prevents lateral protrusion of the needle tip, effectively eliminating the harmful exposure risk while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 elastic element ensures the jaws snap shut to guard the needle tip, preventing accidental pricking and secure locking within the housing, maintaining functionality over time and reducing the risk of needle exposure.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element surrounding the jaws in a region between the base portion and the locking shoulder formed by the at least one head portion and seen in the axial direction the elastic element covers a substantial part of the jaws, wherein the elastic element and the jaws are configured such that the jaws can be spread apart against a restoring force of the elastic element
Implementation Method 2
the elastic element prevents the jaws from becoming loose when the needle safety device slides along the needle, thereby further aiding a correct functioning of the needle safety device
Implementation Method 3
the elastic element also helps prevent the needle tip from protruding sideways out of the needle safety device, thereby further increasing the protecting function of the needle safety device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The application relates to a needle safety device (28) for a medical device, the needle safety device comprising: a base portion (30) having a bore extending in an axial direction therethrough for receiving a needle (24); two opposing jaws (34,36) extending from the base portion (30) generally in the axial direction and each having a head portion (38,40) in the region of its free end, wherein at least one of the head portions (38,40) forms a locking shoulder (50) for securing the needle safety device (28) in a housing of the medical device; and an elastic element (44) surrounding the jaws (34,36) in a region between the base portion (30) and the head portions (38,40), wherein the elastic element (44) and the jaws (34,36) are configured such that the jaws (34,36) can be spread apart against a restoring force of the elastic element (44) in order to allow the needle (24) received in the bore to extend all the way through the needle safety device (28). The application also relates to a needle (24) for a medical device and to an intravenous catheter apparatus comprising a needle (24) and a needle safety device (28).