Needle-tip Shielding Mechanism with Selective Interlock Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vascular access devices face challenges with accidental needle sticks and blood exposure due to frictional engagement of needle tip shields with catheter adapters, which can cause discomfort and risk of infection.
Innovation Solution
A needle-tip shielding mechanism with an interlock system that allows for selective coupling and low-friction release from catheter adapters, featuring an inner housing with a needle-feature capture mechanism and a duckbilled tip barrier to trap the needle tip, enabling safe withdrawal and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the needle tip shield is frictionally engaged within the catheter adapter, then the needle tip is securely held during insertion, but the operator must jerk or forcefully pull the shield from the adapter causing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock system transitions from a static frictional engagement to a dynamic selective engagement mechanism. The movable inner housing allows the interlock features to be engaged during insertion for secure holding, then disengaged for easy removal without forceful jerking, resolving the contradiction between secure holding and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield is divided into an outer housing and a movable inner housing with separate functions. The inner housing carries the interlock features that can be selectively engaged or disengaged from the adapter, allowing the secure holding function to be separated from the removal function, enabling easy removal without compromising initial secure engagement.
2Reliability
If the needle tip shield is frictionally engaged in the catheter adapter, then the needle is retained during use, but there is a risk of accidental needle sticks upon withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The needle tip is captured by the duckbilled tip barrier in advance before withdrawal from the patient. This preliminary action of trapping the needle tip within the inner housing prevents accidental sticks during the withdrawal process, while the interlock system maintains secure retention during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable inner housing acts as an intermediary mechanism between the needle and the outer housing. It provides the duckbilled tip barrier that actively captures and contains the needle tip, mediating the transition from a potentially hazardous exposed state to a safe contained state during needle withdrawal.
3Ease of operation
If the needle is withdrawn from the catheter, then intravenous access is established, but blood may drip from the needle tip or contact other surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The duckbilled tip barrier is positioned in advance to intercept and trap the needle tip as it is withdrawn from the catheter. This preliminary capture action occurs before the needle can be fully removed, preventing blood from dripping or contacting surfaces throughout the remainder of the withdrawal and disposal process.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is nested within the inner housing, which itself is nested within the outer housing. This nested structure provides multiple layers of containment, with the innermost layer (inner housing with duckbilled barrier) directly capturing the needle tip to prevent blood exposure during withdrawal.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
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AI summary
A needle tip shielding mechanism is described herein. The shielding mechanism comprises an outer housing, an inner housing, and a needle having a needle feature. Generally, the outer housing comprises at least one adapter-interlock feature. Moreover, the inner housing comprises a needle-feature capture mechanism, such as a washer feature, and a needle-tip capture mechanism, such as duckbilled tip barrier. In some cases, the inner housing is slidably moveable within the outer housing. In such cases, the inner housing is movable between a first position that biases the adapter-interlock feature into an engaged position and a second position that allows the adapter-interlock feature to move to an unengaged position. This ability to bias the interlock feature in the engaged position and to allow the interlock feature to move to the unengaged position allows the shielding mechanism to be selectively coupled to and released from an interlock-feature mating component within a catheter adapter.