Needle Assembly Shroud and Movable Support for Safety

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing needle assemblies for injection devices often have a rearward needle tip opening that is too large, risking accidental contact with the user's fingertip during disposal, as the internal diameter of the hub is insufficient to prevent this.

Innovation Solution

A needle assembly design featuring a needle support that is captive between the body and shield, allowing axial movement to safely position the needle tips within a shroud configuration, ensuring the rearward tip is securely covered and the forward tip is exposed for injection, with a locking mechanism providing a tactile and audible indication of the shroud configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the hub internal diameter is reduced to cover the rearward needle tip, then safety against accidental contact is improved, but the needle cannot be properly attached to the injection device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of accidental needle tip contactVSAvoidattachment to injection device

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the protective function into two separate components: the hub provides attachment functionality while the shroud provides protective coverage. This segmentation allows the hub to maintain its required internal diameter for device attachment, while the shroud independently provides the safety coverage for the needle tip without compromising either function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shroud acts as an intermediary component between the needle assembly and the user's finger. It provides the protective barrier function that the hub cannot fulfill due to its attachment requirements, effectively mediating the safety need without interfering with the hub's primary attachment purpose.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the shroud extends beyond the forward needle tip, then safety coverage is improved, but the needle is not accessible for injection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of rearward needle tipVSAvoidaccessibility of forward needle tip

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shroud is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be in different states: extended beyond the forward needle tip during storage/transport for maximum protection, and retracted during injection to expose the needle. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by adapting the shroud position to the operational context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position parameter of the shroud is changed based on operational requirements. During storage, the shroud position is set to extend beyond the forward tip for maximum coverage; during injection, the position parameter is changed by retracting the shroud to expose the needle, thus adapting to different operational states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the needle support is fixed relative to the body, then structural simplicity is improved, but the needle tip cannot be safely positioned within the shroud

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle support structureVSAvoidexposure of needle tip

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The needle support is designed with dynamic positioning capability relative to the body, allowing it to move axially. This enables the needle tip to be positioned in different locations: exposed during injection and retracted within the shroud during storage. The dynamic nature of the needle support resolves the contradiction between structural simplicity and safety positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If the shield is fixed in position, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the needle assembly cannot transition between injection and shroud configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshield assemblyVSAvoidconfiguration transition capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is designed with dynamic positioning capability relative to the body, allowing it to move axially between different configurations. This dynamic feature enables the needle assembly to transition between the injection configuration (shield retracted) and the shroud configuration (shield extended), resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11439769B2Needle assembly with needle shroud and movable needle support

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 OWEN MUMFORD

AI summary

A needle assembly for mounting on an injection device which comprises a body configured to be attached to an injection device in use; a double ended needle and a needle shield coupled to the body. The needle shield is arranged for axial movement with respect to the body. The needle assembly has an injection configuration, in which the shield is positioned such that the forward tip of the needle projects beyond a forward end of the shield. The needle assembly also has a shroud configuration, in which the shield is positioned such that the forward end of the shield extends beyond the forward tip of the needle. The needle assembly further comprises a needle support fixed relative to the body when the needle assembly is in the injection configuration. Movement of the shield from the injection configuration to the shroud configuration axially displaces the needle support relative to the body.