Needle Support Assembly with Expanded Visualization Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current venous blood collection devices with evacuated vials face challenges in verifying the correct entry of the needle into the vein due to small visualization windows, leading to difficulties in operator control and potential false signals from blood pressure, resulting in inefficient operations and increased blood loss.
Innovation Solution
A needle support assembly with a transparent or semi-transparent support body featuring an inner chamber with larger cross-sectional area than the needle coupling seats, divided into channels that allow a greater volume of blood to flow and distribute it over a linear extension, enhancing visualization and reducing the risk of haemolysis, while maintaining a volume of compressible air for unobstructed blood flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a small visualization window is used near the needle tip, then blood loss is minimized, but visualization quality deteriorates and false signals may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional small window view to a three-dimensional enlarged view by creating a chamber that expands the blood flow path. The chamber with cross-sectional area larger than the needle coupling seats allows blood to distribute over a linear extension, providing an enlarged visualization area that maintains connection to the small needle tip location.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent or semi-transparent support body acts as an intermediary between the needle coupling seats and the operator's view. It allows optical transmission while providing a magnified view of the blood flow, serving as a mediator that enhances visualization without requiring a larger physical window at the needle tip.
2Measurement precision
If a larger visualization window is used, then visualization quality improves, but blood loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber extends along the longitudinal axis with a cross-sectional area larger than the needle coupling seats, creating a volumetric expansion that provides enlarged visualization without requiring a proportionally larger opening at the needle tip. This dimensional expansion allows more blood volume to be visualized along the linear extension.
Solution Approach 2:
The support body is segmented into different functional zones: the needle coupling seats with smaller cross-sectional areas for minimal blood loss, and the inner chamber with larger cross-sectional area for enhanced visualization. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function.
3Measurement precision
If the inner chamber cross-sectional area is increased, then blood flow visualization is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent or semi-transparent support body merges multiple functions: it provides structural support for the needles, creates the visualization chamber, and serves as the transparent window itself. This integration reduces the number of separate components needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The support body is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously holds the needles, defines the chamber geometry, provides the transparent viewing surface, and maintains the connection between the needle coupling seats and the chamber.
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
This design allows for clearer visualization of blood flow, facilitating correct needle entry verification, reducing the risk of accidental effusions, and ensuring operational reliability and safety, while being economically simple to produce.
Implementation Method 1
The support body (10) is provided with a viewing window (20) and is made at least partially in transparent or semi-transparent material to permit the visualisation of such blood flow
Implementation Method 2
An inner chamber (20) with a larger cross-sectional area than the needle coupling seats (11, 12) is defined inside the support body (10), which is divided into channels (41, 42) that allow a greater volume of blood to flow and distribute it over a linear extension
Implementation Method 3
The channels (41, 42) are arranged in such a way that a volume of compressible air is present inside the inner chamber (20), which is sufficient to ensure unobstructed blood flow
Data Source
AI summary
Needle support assembly for a venous blood collection device with evacuated vial, comprising a support body having a coupling seat for a vein needle and coupling seat for a vial needle. The support body is provided with an inner chamber having an entrance and an exit. The support body is made at least partially in transparent or semi-transparent material to permit the visualization of the blood flow. The inner chamber has a mean cross-section greater than the cross-sections of both the coupling seats and is divided into compartments communicating with each other which define one or more channels for the blood flow from the entrance to the exit. Each channel defines a path for the blood which moves away from the entrance to the exit. Each channel defines a path for the blood which moves away from the straight line connecting the entrance and the exit and has a smaller cross-section than the mean cross-section of the inner chamber.