Needle Sheath Gripping Device for Safe Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for removing and replacing needle sheaths on medical devices, such as hypodermic syringes and IV catheters, pose a risk of needle stick injuries due to the manual handling required, which can expose practitioners to the sharpened needle tip during removal and reattachment.
Innovation Solution
A device with a support and a needle sheath gripping member featuring an aperture with a receiving portion and a gripping portion of different diameters, allowing safe removal and reattachment of the sheath without direct contact, utilizing chamfered edges to securely grip the sheath and reduce the risk of injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle sheath is removed manually by pulling, then the sheath can be removed from the needle, but the risk of needle stick injury increases due to direct contact with the needle tip
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces an intermediary structure (the device body with aperture and gripping member) that mediates between the user's fingers and the needle sheath. The sheath is inserted into the aperture and gripped by the gripping member, allowing removal without direct finger contact with the needle tip, thus reducing injury risk while maintaining operational ease
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the needle sheath is replaced over the needle tip manually, then the needle tip is protected from exposure, but the risk of needle stick injury increases due to the need to guide and push the sheath over the sharp tip
Solution Approach 1:
The device body serves as an intermediary that holds the needle and sheath during replacement. The needle is inserted through the aperture, and the sheath is gripped by the gripping member, allowing the user to guide and push the sheath over the needle tip without direct finger contact, thus protecting the needle tip while maintaining operational ease
3Ease of operation
If the user touches the needle sheath directly during removal and replacement, then the sheath can be handled easily, but the aseptic technique is compromised and injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device body with its aperture and gripping member acts as a sterile intermediary barrier. The user's fingers remain outside the sterile field while the device handles the sheath, maintaining aseptic technique. The gripping member provides secure hold on the sheath without requiring direct finger contact, thus preserving both ease of operation and aseptic reliability
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2a
AI summary
There is provided a device for removing and replacing a needle sheath of a needle device, the device comprising: a support; a needle sheath gripping member having an aperture therein, the aperture comprising: a needle sheath receiving portion having a first diameter for receiving a portion of the needle sheath therein; and a needle sheath gripping portion having a second diameter for gripping a portion of the needle sheath, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter, the sheath gripping portion comprising an edge for gripping the outer surface of the needle sheath. A method for removing a needle sheath from a needle device is also provided, the method comprising: inserting a portion of the needle sheath into a receiving portion of an aperture in a needle sheath gripping member; moving the needle sheath into a gripping portion of the aperture, whereby a portion of the outer surface of the needle sheath is gripped by opposing edge portions of the gripping portion of the aperture; and pulling the needle device away from the needle sheath gripping member.