Retractable Needle Adapters for Universal Barrel Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety syringes require complex manufacturing processes and specific barrel configurations, making them costly and difficult to adapt to varying syringe shapes, particularly glass barrels, which limits their widespread adoption and increases the risk of needlestick injuries and microbial contamination.
Innovation Solution
The development of barrel-adaptable needle retraction systems that integrate a novel barrel adapter with a needle subassembly and actuator subassembly, allowing for flexible mounting on standard barrels, including straight-glass barrels, without the need for complex manufacturing changes, using off-the-shelf components and ensuring aesthetic similarity to conventional syringes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If retractable needle assemblies are developed for specific syringe barrel shapes, then needle retraction function is achieved, but adaptability to different barrel configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel adapter is designed as a universal interface that can be attached to various syringe barrel configurations (glass and plastic barrels of different shapes). The adapter provides standardized mounting features that accommodate different barrel types, allowing the same retractable needle assembly to be used across multiple syringe designs without requiring custom-tailored retraction mechanisms for each barrel type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specifically-tailored retraction mechanisms are used for different barrel configurations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe system is divided into separate modular components: a standardized retractable needle assembly and a barrel adapter that interfaces between the barrel and needle. This segmentation allows the complex retraction mechanism to be isolated in a single modular unit that can be attached to any barrel type through the adapter, eliminating the need for custom-tailored mechanisms for each barrel configuration and simplifying overall device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If glass syringe barrels with specific configurations are used, then mounting of retractable needle subassembly is enabled, but manufacturing availability and cost are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel adapter serves as an intermediary component that bridges the interface between standard glass barrels (with their existing mounting configurations) and the retractable needle assembly. This adapter allows conventional glass barrels to be used without requiring them to be specially tailored or modified, thereby maintaining manufacturing availability while enabling the mounting of retractable needle mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If conventional syringe designs are maintained for aesthetic similarity, then user acceptance is improved, but integration of safety features becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable needle assembly and barrel adapter are designed to nest within or attach to the conventional syringe barrel structure. The adapter integrates with the existing barrel geometry, and the retraction mechanism is contained within the adapter or needle hub, allowing the overall syringe to maintain its conventional external appearance and ergonomic characteristics while incorporating advanced safety features.
Data Source
AI summary
Barrel adapters for safety syringes include a barrel and a plunger assembly adapted to move within the barrel, a barrel tip adapted to be sealingly engaged with a distal end of the barrel and a needle retraction mechanism barrel having a needle subassembly and an actuator subassembly. The needle subassembly includes a needle, and a needle-over-mold (NOM) through which the needle extends. The needle subassembly is disposed at least partially within the barrel tip, and adapted to move from an injection position in which the needle extends from a distal end of the barrel tip to a retracted position in which the needle is disposed within at least one of the barrel tip or the barrel. The actuator subassembly includes a needle seal, a push-bar, and an actuator surface. The needle retraction mechanism barrel includes a biasing member and an actuable locking arrangement. A syringe includes such barrel adapters.