Puncture-Resistant Barriers for Intraoperative Needle Electrode Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical protocols lack effective solutions to prevent needlestick injuries from subdermal needle electrodes used in neurodiagnostic intraoperative monitoring, posing a significant risk of blood-borne disease transmission to healthcare workers and others.

Innovation Solution

Development of puncture-resistant barriers and alternative monitoring electrodes with hard-wired leads or chemical skin-penetration technology to reduce or eliminate the risk of needlestick injuries, including a flexible puncture-resistant hat for head coverage and self-adhesive puncture-resistant pads for body regions, along with reusable snap-on leads and chemical conductive pads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If solid needle electrodes are used for intraoperative monitoring, then monitoring functionality is achieved, but needlestick injuries and disease transmission risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring functionalityVSAvoidneedlestick injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A puncture-resistant barrier material is introduced as an intermediary layer between the needle electrode and healthcare workers. This barrier maintains the monitoring functionality while preventing needlestick injuries and disease transmission, directly resolving the contradiction between functional reliability and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs flexible puncture-resistant films or shells that can be applied over needle electrodes. These thin film barriers provide protection against needlestick injuries while allowing the underlying monitoring function to operate effectively, addressing both safety and functionality requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of operation

If adhesive tape is used to secure needle electrodes, then electrode placement is simplified, but the tape is easily punctured offering no protection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode placementVSAvoidpuncture resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite materials that combine the adhesive properties of tape with the puncture resistance of barrier materials. This composite structure maintains ease of electrode placement while providing the necessary puncture resistance to protect against needlestick injuries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Flexible puncture-resistant films are applied over the adhesive tape to create a protective layer that resists punctures. This maintains the simplicity of electrode placement while significantly improving puncture resistance to prevent needlestick injuries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Productivity

If healthcare workers ignore reporting protocols, then workflow efficiency is maintained, but disease transmission risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow efficiencyVSAvoiddisease transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The puncture-resistant barrier acts as a mediator that eliminates the need for reporting protocols by preventing the harmful effect (needlestick injuries) before it occurs. This allows healthcare workers to maintain workflow efficiency without compromising safety, as the barrier prevents disease transmission regardless of reporting compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If hollow needles are used instead of solid needle electrodes, then disease transmission risk increases, but needlestick injuries are more effective at transferring disease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease transmission effectivenessVSAvoidneedlestick injury severity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The puncture-resistant barrier material serves as a mediator that prevents both the needlestick injury and subsequent disease transmission. By blocking the needle tip before it can penetrate skin, the barrier eliminates the harmful effects of both solid and hollow needles, resolving the contradiction between injury severity and disease transmission effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8750956B2Method and devices for its employ for reducing disease-transfer risks

Publication Date: 2014.06.10 RIESS EDWARD ALLEN

AI summary

The present invention is a method and apparatus, in several embodiments, for providing protection in workplaces in which workers can be exposed to diseases and other contaminations from skin abrasions or punctures by contaminated objects. In its primary application it provides such protection at skin surfaces of healthcare patients into which needle electrodes have been inserted and, under certain conditions, can emerge. This bio-hazard occurs most often during patient-positioning when patients are unconscious due to anesthesia or other reasons. Protection is supplied in the first embodiment by a puncture-resistant head-covering; in the second by a pad that covers and secures needle electrodes, and; in a third as a tissue-penetrating, less hazardous stick-on electrode. The latter two embodiments have pressure-sensitive-adhesive coatings for adhesion to a patient's skin.