Hypodermic Needle Safety Sheath with Biasing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for injecting therapeutic agents into the eye lack precise control over needle position, angle, and depth, leading to potential damage to ocular structures, and fail to ensure needle safety after use, particularly in deep-set eyes and during self-administration.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a connector, a sheath, and a biasing mechanism that moves between two positions to cover the needle tip after use, allowing controlled exposure of a defined length for injection, providing both guidance for precise placement and safety features to prevent needlestick injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hypodermic needle is used for injection without a protective mechanism, then the needle can be freely manipulated during injection, but the needle tip remains exposed after use causing needlestick injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheath is designed to be movable between a retracted position (allowing needle manipulation during injection) and an extended position (covering the needle tip after use). The biasing device enables the sheath to automatically transition between these states, providing both operational freedom and safety as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection device is divided into separate functional components: a connector for attaching to the hypodermic needle, a movable protective sheath that can cover or expose the needle tip, and a biasing device that provides the force for sheath movement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed protective cover is used on the needle, then the needle tip is always covered for safety, but the needle cannot be properly positioned and injected
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheath transitions from a static covering to a dynamic component that can be retracted during injection and extended after use. This dynamic behavior allows the needle to be precisely positioned and injected when needed, while providing protection when the needle is not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing device is pre-loaded to automatically extend the protective sheath after the injection procedure is complete, ensuring the needle tip is covered without requiring manual intervention. This preliminary setup ensures safety is automatically activated after use.
3Reliability
If instruments are picked up and put down repeatedly during injection procedure, then each step can be performed carefully, but the process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector, protective sheath, and biasing device are combined into a single integrated assembly that attaches to the hypodermic needle. This merged device performs multiple functions (protection, positioning aid, and automatic safety activation) simultaneously, eliminating the need to handle separate instruments repeatedly.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device serves multiple purposes: it protects the needle tip when not in use, aids in positioning during injection, and automatically activates safety coverage after injection. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate steps and instruments needed in the overall procedure.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a biasing device is added to move the sheath between positions, then the needle tip can be automatically covered after use, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing device is designed to automatically extend the protective sheath after injection without requiring manual operation. The system uses the existing motion of needle retraction to trigger the biasing device, which then self-activates to provide protection, minimizing the need for additional controls or complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the needle movement and the protective sheath. It translates the mechanical motion of needle retraction into sheath extension, providing a simple mechanical linkage that adds minimal complexity while achieving the safety function.
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
Enables precise control over needle placement to avoid ocular damage and immediately renders the needle safe after use, reducing the risk of accidents for both patients and healthcare workers.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing device between the connector and the sheath; wherein the sheath is moveable between a first position into which it is biased by the biasing device and a second retracted position against the force of the biasing device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A device for a hypodermic needle comprises a connector for connecting to a hypodermic needle, a sheath (22) which in use surrounds the hypodermic needle and a biasing device (24) between the connector and the sheath. The sheath is moveable between a first position into which it is biased by the biasing device and a second retracted position against the force of the biasing device, so that in use, the tip of the hypodermic needle is covered in the first position but a defined length of the hypodermic needle is exposed in the second position. The device also sets the position of the angle of the hypodermic needle and locks the sheath over the needle after use.