Needle Tip With Intersecting Surfaces For Microdialysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical needles, particularly those used for microdialysis, face challenges in minimizing tissue penetration force and discomfort due to limitations in tip design, leading to increased pain and tissue alteration during insertion.
Innovation Solution
A needle design featuring an end portion with intersecting surfaces forming a line or point of intersection, which creates a cutting edge to reduce initial penetration force and a robust tip to minimize complete penetration force, allowing for easier insertion with reduced discomfort and tissue alteration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fine pointed tip is used to lessen initial penetration force, then insertion discomfort is reduced, but complete penetration force increases because the thicker needle region cannot be penetrated easily
Solution Approach 1:
The needle tip is segmented into two distinct functional zones: a fine pointed tip region for initial penetration and a cutting edge region for complete penetration. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between easy initial penetration and low complete penetration force.
Solution Approach 2:
Different local areas of the needle tip are given different geometric properties: the tip area has a fine point for low initial penetration force, while the adjacent area has a cutting edge configuration for low complete penetration force. This local quality differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both penetration stages.
2Force
If a cutting edge is used to lessen complete penetration force, then insertion force is reduced, but initial penetration force increases because the cutting edge cannot easily pierce the tissue surface
Solution Approach 1:
The needle tip is divided into a fine pointed tip segment for initial tissue piercing and a cutting edge segment for complete penetration. This segmentation enables the fine tip to provide easy initial penetration while the cutting edge provides low complete penetration force.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle tip features localized geometric variations: a fine pointed configuration at the very tip for initial penetration, and a cutting edge configuration in the adjacent area for complete penetration. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between initial penetration ease and complete penetration force.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the needle tip is made robust to reduce bending during insertion, then insertion stability is improved, but the tip cannot be made especially pointed or sharp for easy tissue penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The needle tip is segmented into a fine pointed region that remains stable during insertion and a cutting edge region that provides easy penetration. This segmentation allows the tip to maintain stability while still achieving easy initial penetration through the fine point configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Different local areas of the needle tip have different geometric properties: the tip area maintains a fine point for stability and easy penetration, while the adjacent area has a cutting edge configuration. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between tip stability and initial penetration ease.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional needle designs are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but burrs form at the edges increasing the force required for penetration and making insertion unpleasant
Solution Approach 1:
The needle tip features localized geometric optimizations: a fine pointed configuration at the tip and a cutting edge configuration in the adjacent area. These local quality improvements reduce burr formation and penetration force while maintaining compatibility with conventional manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A needle for medical uses, for example for inserting a dialysis membrane into human or animal tissue, wherein the needle has an end portion made of solid material and provided with at least two areas which intersect a longitudinal axis of the needle and each other whereby at least one line or point of intersection is formed between the at least two areas, the line or point of intersection in a needle region adjacent to the end portion.