Needle Safety Device with Interlocking Wings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current safety devices for medical needles are not designed to meet clinical protocols and are difficult to use, often failing to provide adequate protection from needle stick injuries during and after removal from patients.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a central body portion in fluid connection with a delivery tube, a medical needle with a sharp tip, and a pair of wings or a sleeve that can be selectively positioned to protect the user from the needle tip, using mechanical fasteners or hinges to secure the needle after removal, ensuring user safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a medical needle with sharp tip is used for medical procedures, then the needle can effectively deliver medicinal fluid to the patient, but the sharp tip poses a significant hazard to users during and after removal from the patient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle functionVSAvoidneedle stick injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates wings that are pre-positioned to automatically cover and protect the sharp tip of the needle after removal from the patient. This preliminary protective action eliminates the need for manual handling of the exposed needle tip, thereby preventing needle stick injuries while maintaining reliable fluid delivery during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wings act as an intermediary protective element between the user and the sharp needle tip. The mechanical fastener secures the wings in place, creating a barrier that mediates the harmful interaction between the user's hands and the contaminated needle tip, thus reducing injury risk without affecting the needle's therapeutic function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If current safety devices are used to protect from needle sharp tips, then some protection is provided, but the devices are difficult to use and do not meet clinical protocols

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle stick injury riskVSAvoiddevice usability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is designed to be self-operating through a simple mechanical fastener system that automatically secures the wings over the needle tip when activated. This self-service mechanism eliminates complex操作步骤, making the device easy to use in clinical settings while effectively protecting users from needle stick injuries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The protective device is segmented into distinct functional components: wings for coverage, a mechanical fastener for secure attachment, and a delivery tube for fluid administration. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, improving overall usability while maintaining protection against needle injuries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If wings are added to allow placement and removal of the needle, then ease of operation is improved, but the wings provide little, if any, protection to the user from the needle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle placement and removalVSAvoidneedle stick injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device merges two functions into a single integrated structure: the wings serve both as handles for easy needle placement and removal, and as protective covers for the sharp tip. The mechanical fastener combines these functions by securing the wings in a position that simultaneously facilitates user manipulation and provides protective coverage, eliminating the trade-off between ease of operation and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12042625B2Devices and methods for protecting a user from a sharp tip of a medical needle

Publication Date: 2024.07.23 EMED TECHNOLOGIES CORP

AI summary

A device for protecting a user from a sharp tip of a medical needle includes a central body portion, a medical needle having a sharp tip, a pair of wings in attachment to the central body portion, and a hook-and-loop fastening system disposed on at least one of the wings, and configured to selectively attach the wings together with the medical needle positioned between the wings so as to protect a user from the sharp tip of the medical needle. A method of using the device includes withdrawing a sharp tip of a medical needle from a patient, closing a pair of wings with the medical needle positioned between the wings, and fastening the wings together with the medical needle positioned between the wings so as to protect a user from the sharp tip of the medical needle.