Resilient Plastic Engaging Element for Catheter Hub Immobilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle tip shielding devices for catheters face challenges in providing reliable and cost-effective immobilization of the needle tip protector relative to the catheter hub, with variability in disconnection force and potential for contamination due to material interactions, such as metal and plastic scraping, which can lead to health hazards.
Innovation Solution
A needle tip shielding device with a resilient fixing arrangement featuring engaging elements that expand to securely attach to the catheter hub, minimizing the force required for disconnection and made from a plastic material to prevent contamination from material debris, using a design that includes stabilizing elements and a restrictor to ensure safe and efficient protection of the needle tip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal spring clip is used as the protector to lock to the catheter hub, then the immobilization reliability is improved, but plastic chips and metallic particles are released causing contamination hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the engaging element from metal to plastic, eliminating the generation of metallic particles and plastic chips while maintaining the locking function through friction and normal force
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a plastic engaging element that combines the functions of locking and protection without the material incompatibility issues of metal-plastic combinations, eliminating particle generation from material scraping
2Strength
If a resilient spring clip is used to lock to the catheter hub, then the connecting strength is improved, but the force variability upon disconnection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the engaging element, specifically the angle of the contact surface (alpha between 30-60 degrees), to optimize the balance between locking strength and controlled disconnection force
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a resilient plastic engaging element that can dynamically adjust to variations in catheter hub inner diameter through elastic deformation, compensating for manufacturing tolerances and reducing force variability
3Ease of operation
If the engaging element is made resilient to expand and lock, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking function and the protective function into a single integrated plastic engaging element, eliminating the need for separate metal spring clips and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient engaging element automatically locks to the catheter hub through its own elastic deformation when inserted, and automatically releases when the needle is withdrawn, without requiring additional actuating mechanisms
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 a consistent and low-force disconnection mechanism while preventing contamination by using a plastic material that reduces debris generation, enhancing safety and reducing production costs, thus addressing the variability and contamination issues of existing solutions.
Implementation Method 1
which engaging element is resilient and resiliently striving from a compressed state towards an expanded state
Implementation Method 2
The slits may extend essentially in the longitudinal direction of the protector, from the rear side to the front side. Disadvantages of such means for immobilization include a relatively large variability of the force required to disconnect the protector from the catheter hub
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3~4B
Figure 5A~6
AI summary
The present invention discloses a needle tip shielding device for protection of a needle tip of a needle. The needle tip shielding device comprises a fixing arrangement having a proximal side and a distal side, which fixing arrangement is comprising at least one engaging element, which engaging element is resilient and resiliency striving from a compressed state towards an expanded state, in which expanded state the shortest distance between a point of said engaging element and the central axis of said needle tip shielding device is longer than the shortest distance between said central axis and any other point of said needle tip shielding device, A catheter instrument comprising the needle tip shielding device and a method for manufacturing is also disclosed.