Needle Tip Protector Integrating Detents to Prevent Reexposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indwelling needle assemblies lack effective mechanisms to prevent reexposure and dislodgment of the needle tip, posing safety risks and complicating disposal.
Innovation Solution
A needle tip protector with integrally formed detents within a tubular peripheral wall that prevents backward movement, ensuring the needle tip remains covered by engaging with the needle hub, featuring detent extensions and expansion parts to stabilize the protector's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a needle tip protector is designed with a movable peripheral wall to protect the needle tip, then the safety and prevention of erroneous puncture are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for coupling mechanisms and detents
Solution Approach 1:
The detent is integrally molded with the tubular peripheral wall, merging two components into one. This eliminates the need for separate detent parts and reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the safety function of preventing backward movement of the needle tip protector
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular peripheral wall serves multiple functions: it protects the needle tip, provides structural support, and integrates the detent mechanism for positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the device
2Ease of operation
If the detent is accessible from the outside for engagement with the needle hub, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of unintentional contact or breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detent is nested within the tubular peripheral wall, with only its engagement portion extending to interact with the needle hub. This nested configuration allows the detent to function while being protected from external damage and unintentional contact
3Reliability
If the detent extends to the distal end side for effective engagement, then the reliability of preventing reexposure is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to catching or resistance during withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The detent has non-uniform geometry with a specific configuration at its distal end that allows it to engage reliably with the needle hub while minimizing interference during withdrawal. The local quality of the detent's engagement surface is optimized to balance reliability and ease of operation
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a needle tip protector of a novel structure for an indwelling needle, which enables improvements in safety, etc. as compared with conventional needle tip protectors. A needle tip protector 10 for an indwelling needle includes a tubular peripheral wall 58, and is externally attached over a needle hub 22 of an indwelling needle 16 and moved toward a needle tip 14 side so as to cover the needle tip 14. Detents 74, 74, which are to be detained with the needle hub 22 at a position in a movement of the protector toward the needle tip 14 side of the indwelling needle 16 so as to inhibit backward movement of the protector to the proximal end side of the indwelling needle 16 and to prevent the needle tip 14 from being reexposed, are formed within an inside enclosed by the peripheral wall 58, and are integrally molded with the peripheral wall 58.