Passive Safety Shield for Pen Needles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accidental needlestick injuries from pen needles pose a significant risk to healthcare workers, particularly during removal and disposal, as existing safety shield systems often require user intervention and may not adequately protect both injection and non-injection ends of the needle.
Innovation Solution
A passive safety shield system for pen needles that automatically locks into place after use, featuring a spring-biased injection end shield and a non-injection end shield that engages with the hub to prevent exposure, ensuring protection without requiring user action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a passive safety shield system is implemented, then protection against needlestick injuries is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety shield system is divided into two separate shields: an injection end shield and a non-injection end shield. Each shield independently protects one end of the needle, allowing the system to provide comprehensive protection while maintaining simpler individual components that can be manufactured and assembled more easily
Solution Approach 2:
The injection end shield is positioned within the hub structure, with the needle passing through its aperture. The non-injection end shield is also integrated into the hub. Both shields are nested within the overall hub assembly, creating a compact design that provides enhanced protection without proportionally increasing external device dimensions or complexity
2Ease of operation
If automatic shielding is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety shield system operates automatically without requiring user intervention. The spring-biased injection end shield self-activates when the needle penetrates the patient's body, and the non-injection end shield automatically engages when the hub is assembled. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual re-shielding operations while using relatively simple spring and cam-based actuation mechanisms
3Reliability
If both injection end and non-injection end shields are provided, then protection against needlestick injuries is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection system is segmented into two distinct shields: the injection end shield protects the needle tip during and after injection, while the non-injection end shield protects the hub connection area. This segmentation allows each shield to be optimized for its specific protective function while maintaining independent, relatively simple structures that can be manufactured separately and assembled into the hub
Solution Approach 2:
Each shield is designed with specific local features tailored to its protective function: the injection end shield has an aperture sized for needle passage and spring biasing mechanisms activated by needle penetration, while the non-injection end shield has engagement features that activate when the hub is assembled. This local quality optimization ensures each shield provides targeted protection without requiring complex features across the entire device
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 system significantly reduces the risk of needlestick injuries by automatically shielding both ends of the needle, enhancing safety for healthcare professionals and patients by eliminating the need for manual re-shielding and providing comprehensive protection throughout the needle's lifecycle.
Implementation Method 1
An injection end shield, having an aperture to permit passage of the needle through the shield, situated on and moving coaxially on the hub, is biased with a spring toward the injection end of the needle
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A pen needle shield system according to the invention comprises at least an injection end shield (10) positioned on the injection side of the hub (70), shielding the injection end of the needle (60) after an injection, or in the event of an accidental triggering. The injection end shield is compressed toward the hub against the pressure of a biasing spring (80). The injection end shield (10) engages a sleeve (50), which is arranged coaxially on the hub such that after the injection is administered the biasing spring pushes the injection end shield to cover the injection end of the needle, carrying the sleeve (50) with it. The sleeve (50) engages the hub (70), locking out the injection end shield in a position in which the injection end of the needle is covered by the injection end shield (10). The system also may incorporate a non-injection end shield (40) that engages with the hub (70) when the pen injector (190) is unscrewed from the hub to lock out the non-injection end shield (40) in the position protecting the non-injection end of the needle.