Pen Needle Magazine With Guided Removal and Safe Disposal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medication pens and their needles are inefficiently stored and disposed, leading to inconveniences, potential needle reuse, and risks of needle sticking and bending.
Innovation Solution
A pen needle magazine that organizes and stores multiple needles, provides visual indicators for use, and ensures controlled disposal, preventing reuse and minimizing needle exposure through compartmentalization and locking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple needles are stored separately, then needle organization is simple, but setup time and space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple needle storage compartments into a single integrated magazine unit with unified access and organization, allowing all needles to be stored and retrieved from one location rather than multiple separate storage points, thereby reducing setup time and spatial requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores multiple needles, provides visual indicators for needle status, enables controlled dispensing, and facilitates safe disposal, consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into one universal solution
2Reliability
If needle disposal is separate from storage, then storage is simple, but needle reuse risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine is divided into distinct compartments: a storage area for unused needles and a disposal area for used needles, with physical separation and visual indicators that clearly distinguish between the two zones, preventing accidental reuse of disposed needles
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through indicators that show whether a needle is in storage or disposal status, giving users immediate information about needle availability and preventing inadvertent reuse by making the disposal state visually apparent
3Object-affected harmful factors
If needle access is unrestricted, then needle removal is easy, but accidental needle sticking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the needle, providing a controlled interface that guides proper removal technique and prevents direct handling errors that could lead to needle sticking or bending
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine is pre-configured with designated removal paths and orientations that guide the user through proper needle extraction procedures before the needle is even touched, preventing improper handling through built-in mechanical guidance
4Object-affected harmful factors
If needle orientation is not controlled, then storage is simple, but accidental needle bending increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each compartment within the magazine is designed with specific local features such as oriented slots, guides, or recesses that enforce correct needle orientation at the local level, ensuring needles are stored in a predetermined safe orientation that prevents bending
Data Source
AI summary
A pen needle magazine (10) comprising a plurality of compartments (14) each carrying a pen needle (40), and a pen needle carrier (60) disposed in each of the plurality of compartments (14), the pen needle (40) disposed in the pen needle carrier (60), wherein the pen needle carrier (60) includes a first pen needle path (62) and a second pen needle path (64), the first pen needle path (62) aids in removing the pen needle (40), and the second pen needle path (64) aids in discarding a used pen needle (40).