Passive Safety Needle Assembly with Integrated Locking Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety needle devices require active user intervention for retraction and often allow for reuse without proper sterilization, posing risks of needle stick injuries and disease transmission due to incomplete retraction mechanisms and lack of visibility during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A passively activated safety needle assembly featuring a locking ring and outer shield with a spring element, where the outer shield retracts over the needle upon withdrawal, locking into place to prevent reuse and providing improved visibility during injections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional safety needle devices use multi-component retraction and locking elements, then the retraction mechanism can be activated, but the device complexity increases and the mechanism may be reset allowing reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the retraction mechanism and locking elements into a single integrated component structure, eliminating the need for separate multi-component systems. The retraction mechanism itself incorporates the locking functionality, simplifying the overall device while maintaining safety reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a single-use design where the safety needle assembly is intended for one-time use only. The integrated retraction and locking mechanism is designed to prevent reuse after activation, eliminating the risk of resetting and ensuring proper disposal after a single procedure.
2Ease of operation
If conventional retracting sheath safety needle devices require active user activation, then the retraction mechanism can be controlled, but the chance of human error increases leading to continued needle exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The safety needle assembly automatically activates the retraction mechanism through the natural withdrawal motion of the needle from the patient's body. The mechanism self-activates without requiring additional user actions, buttons, or switches, thereby eliminating human error in activation while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retraction mechanism is pre-configured to activate automatically upon needle withdrawal. The mechanical design ensures that the natural motion of pulling the needle out triggers the retraction sequence, so the protective action is prepared and executes itself based on the procedural step of withdrawal.
3Reliability
If a single-use cover assembly obscures the needle completely, then safety is improved, but the practitioner cannot see the needle or injection site depth
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shield is designed with selective transparency, being transparent in specific regions that allow the practitioner to see the needle and injection site while maintaining coverage and protection in other areas. This localized optical property balance ensures both safety and procedural visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer shield incorporates transparent or translucent material properties that allow light transmission, enabling the practitioner to visually monitor the needle insertion depth and position through the shield without compromising the protective coverage function.
4Productivity
If conventional safety needle devices allow reuse without sterilization, then productivity increases, but the risk of disease transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety needle assembly is designed as a single-use disposable device that is discarded after one procedure. This eliminates any risk of disease transmission through improper sterilization while the cost-effectiveness is maintained through efficient single-use design. The integrated retraction and locking mechanism ensures the device cannot be safely reused.
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
The solution ensures automatic activation of the safety mechanism without user intervention, preventing needle stick injuries and ensuring single-use safety by locking the needle in place after use, thus reducing the risk of disease transmission and enhancing procedural safety.
Implementation Method 1
The inner shield is connected to a spring element that causes the inner shield to retract over the needle upon withdrawal
Data Source
AI summary
Described are passively activated safety needle assemblies and methods for use. The assemblies comprise an elongate hollow outer shield, an elongate hub slidably engaged within the outer shield and biased to move proximally with respect to the outer shield. A locking ring in the hub has a ring element that cooperates with an activation element on the outer shield rotate the locking ring and disable the assembly.