Pre-Filled Barrel Needle Shield Locking for Safe Disposal

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pre-filled syringes face issues with needle exposure after use, as conventional protective covers are prone to detachment, require manual alignment, and pose a risk of needlestick injuries, complicating safe disposal and increasing operational workload.

Innovation Solution

A needle protection type pre-filled barrel design featuring a limiting block unit and protective cover unit with an energy arm mechanism that securely covers the needle after use, ensuring stable protection through a locking mechanism and minimizing manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a pre-filled barrel without needle protection is used, then the injection process is simple and quick, but the patient is exposed to needlestick injuries and bacterial contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneedlestick injury and bacterial contamination riskVSAvoidbarrel structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The needle protection mechanism is nested within the barrel structure itself. The flexible membrane forms an integrated protective barrier that contains the needle within the barrel until administration, eliminating the need for separate external protection devices while maintaining safety functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective mechanism is segmented into distinct functional zones: the flexible membrane that seals the needle, the rupture layer that controls access, and the activation mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific safety function independently while maintaining overall system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a complex needle protection mechanism is added to the barrel, then patient safety is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The safety protection function is merged with the existing barrel structure. The flexible membrane and rupture layer are integrated into the barrel's sealing system, combining safety functionality with the administrative function in a single manufactured component rather than adding separate protection devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The activation mechanism is designed to be self-activating through simple user manipulation. When the user removes the cap or applies slight pressure, the rupture layer automatically breaks and the needle is exposed, eliminating the need for complex mechanical activation systems while ensuring safety protocol compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the barrel is designed with integrated needle protection, then handling safety is improved, but the administration process may become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling safetyVSAvoidadministration process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The needle protection and sealing functions are performed in advance during barrel manufacturing. The flexible membrane and rupture layer are pre-positioned and sealed within the barrel, so that at the time of administration, the user only needs to perform a simple cap removal action rather than manipulating complex protection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the user to actively activate complex protection mechanisms, the design inverts the approach by having the protection automatically in place and requiring only simple removal or activation. The cap removal action simultaneously achieves both cap function and needle exposure, simplifying the user interaction sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4512444B1Needle protection type pre-filled barrel, assembly comprising same and mounting method for assembly
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 SHANGHAI INNOPAC MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4512444B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4512444B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4512444B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of medical appliances, and particularly relates to a needle protection type pre-filled barrel and an assembly thereof, and a mounting method and a use method for the assembly. The present disclosure aims at providing a needle protection type pre-filled barrel and an assembly thereof, and a mounting method and a use method for the assembly. The technical effect that a needle can be stably covered after a syringe is used is achieved through a limiting block unit located on a needle mounting tube of the barrel and a protective cover unit sleeving the needle mounting tube and covering an injection needle. the protective cover and the barrel are designed as an integrated unit, offering the advantage of preventing detachment. Once the protective cover fully covers and locks the used needle, it is nearly impossible for the needle to be exposed again.