Double-Ended Pen Needle Safety Shield System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Healthcare workers face accidental needlestick injuries from contaminated needles, particularly when removing and disposing of pen needle devices, as existing safety shield systems do not adequately protect the non-injection end of the needle.
Innovation Solution
A double-ended injection pen needle with safety shields on both the injection and non-injection ends, featuring elastic members and clips that automatically cover the needles upon removal of the pen injector, ensuring the non-injection end is shielded to prevent accidental exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a single safety shield is used to enclose the injection end of the needle, then protection against needlestick at the injection end is improved, but protection against needlestick at the non-injection end is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The safety shield is divided into two separate shields: a first safety shield for the injection end and a second safety shield for the non-injection end. Each shield independently protects its respective end of the needle, providing comprehensive coverage without interfering with each other's function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different safety shield configurations are applied to different ends of the needle based on their specific protection needs. The first shield at the injection end and the second shield at the non-injection end can have different structural characteristics optimized for their respective locations and usage scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If manual re-shielding is required after injection, then needle control flexibility is improved, but risk of accidental needlestick during re-shielding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety shields are designed to automatically extend and lock into position after injection without requiring manual intervention. The passive safety mechanism self-activates based on the injection action, eliminating the need for manual re-shielding operations that expose healthcare workers to risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The shields are pre-positioned to cover the needle ends and are designed to automatically return to the enclosed position after injection. This preliminary positioning and automatic return mechanism ensures protection is maintained without requiring additional manual shielding steps.
3Ease of operation
If the needle is exposed during assembly and disposal operations, then operational accessibility is improved, but risk of contamination and injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety shields are designed with dynamic movement capabilities, allowing them to be retracted during assembly operations for needle accessibility and then automatically extend after injection to provide protection during disposal. This dynamic behavior adapts the shielding state to the operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The shields undergo periodic state changes between retracted (during assembly) and extended (during disposal) positions. This periodic action ensures the needle is accessible when needed while automatically protected during disposal operations, reducing contamination and injury risks.
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 provides comprehensive protection against needlestick injuries by automatically shielding both ends of the needle, reducing the risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens during handling and disposal of pen needle devices.
Implementation Method 1
An elastic member housed between the end wall of the shield and the hub middle wall may bias the shield toward the full travel position
Data Source
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AI summary
A safety shield system for a pen needle according to the invention has a first passive safety shield (104) for the injection end of a needle, covering the needle before and after use, and a second passive safety shield (40) for the non-injection end of the needle, covering the non-injection end of the needle before and after use, and locking in the covering position when the pen injector (190) is removed.