Pre-pierced IV Access Port Needle Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IV access ports often damage when blunt-tipped cannulated needles are used, as the pre-pierced resilient members can catch on the needle's cutting edge, increasing complexity and cost in pharmaceutical administration.
Innovation Solution
An IV access port with a resilient member featuring a depression with axial and radial sidewalls that guide the needle tip into a self-sealing axial perforation, allowing for safe insertion and sealing of cannulated needles with slanted cutting edges, reducing the risk of damage to the access port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pre-pierced resilient member is used in the access port, then blunt-tipped cannulated needles can be used safely, but the resilient member can catch on the needle's cutting edge and cause damage to the access port
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member is pre-pierced with an axial perforation before use, creating a predetermined pathway that guides the needle tip through the material. This preliminary action prevents the needle from catching on the resilient member during insertion, eliminating the risk of damage while maintaining safety for blunt-tipped needle use.
2Strength
If a solid septum is used instead of a pre-pierced resilient member, then the access port is more durable, but sharp-tipped needles must be used which increase the risk of accidental needle pricks
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member combines local qualities of both solid septum and pre-pierced structure: it maintains the durability and sealing properties of a solid elastomeric material while incorporating a pre-formed axial perforation that enables safe blunt-tipped needle insertion, thus eliminating the harmful effect of accidental needle pricks.
3Ease of operation
If a cannulated needle with flat cutting edge is used to penetrate a solid vial stopper, then fluid withdrawal is facilitated, but the cutting edge may catch on the pre-pierced resilient member during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-pierced axial perforation in the resilient member acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the needle insertion process and the resilient member material. The predetermined opening allows the needle to pass through without catching on the elastomeric material, enabling the use of flat-cutting-edge needles for efficient fluid withdrawal while eliminating the risk of access port damage.
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
Facilitates the use of various needle tips, including those with flat cutting edges, by guiding them through a pre-pierced slit in the access port, ensuring secure sealing and reducing the risk of port damage during pharmaceutical withdrawal and administration.
Implementation Method 1
A resilient member is supported in the inlet of the rigid housing and includes a proximal face exposed to an exterior of the rigid housing, a distal face disposed within the rigid housing, and an axial perforation extending therethrough. The axial perforation is normally closed by the resiliency of the resilient member.
Data Source
AI summary
An access port for introduction of a needle cannula tip into an IV tube set includes a rigid tubular housing and a resilient member disposed within an inlet of the housing. The resilient member includes a proximal face exposed to an exterior of the rigid housing and a distal face disposed within the rigid housing. An axial perforation extends through the resilient member, and is normally closed by a resilient character of the resilient member. A depression is defined in the proximal face of the resilient member, and includes sidewalls extending between the proximal face and the axial perforation to guide the needle cannula tip toward the axial perforation as a needle cannula associated with the needle cannula tip is introduced into the access port.