Retractable Needle Catheter Delivery Safety Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter insertion tools require needle splitting or disassembly, posing safety and disposal risks, and are prone to contamination during use, with no inherent protection against accidental needle sticks for medical personnel.
Innovation Solution
A catheter insertion system featuring a housing with a retractable needle and a slider mechanism that allows the needle to be safely sequestered within the housing after catheter deployment, eliminating the need for splitting and enhancing safety by preventing accidental needle exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle is made splittable or disassembled for removal, then the catheter can be removed from the needle, but safety and disposal risks increase due to exposed needle portions
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two main segments: a reusable housing containing the needle and a disposable catheter assembly. The needle remains permanently contained within the housing after use, while the catheter is removed and disposed of separately, eliminating exposure to sharp needle portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is nested within the housing structure, and the catheter is nested within the needle during insertion. After deployment, the needle remains nested within the housing while the catheter is extracted, providing a safe containment structure throughout the process.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter is manipulated while threading through the needle lumen, then the catheter can be inserted, but contamination risk increases from skin bacteria and operator contact
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is pre-loaded and pre-positioned within the needle assembly during manufacturing. The proximal end of the catheter is secured within the needle hub, eliminating the need for manual threading and reducing contamination opportunities before the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle assembly acts as an intermediary sterile barrier between the non-sterile environment (operator hands, skin) and the catheter. The catheter remains enclosed within this sterile barrier until deployment, minimizing contamination risk.
3Ease of operation
If the needle remains exposed outside the housing after insertion, then the catheter can be deployed, but accidental needle sticks to medical personnel increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dangerous needle component is extracted from the operational field after use and permanently retained within the housing structure. Only the safe, flexible catheter remains outside the body for connection and fluid administration, removing the hazard from the workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure, which initially serves only as a mounting platform, is transformed into a safety device by incorporating needle containment features. The same structure that enables catheter deployment becomes the protective barrier that prevents needle sticks.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter insertion system includes a housing extending along a longitudinal axis a needle extends distally from a distal end of the housing. The needle has a longitudinal passage coaxially aligned with the housing. A catheter has a length and is sized and shaped to be advanced from a retracted position within the longitudinal passage of the needle to an extended position with at least a portion of the catheter length extending beyond a distal tip of the needle. The needle is typically configured to be retracted back into the housing after the catheter has been distally advanced through the needle, thus providing an integrated catheter and catheter insertion apparatus. After needle retraction, the housing may be taped or otherwise secured to the patient's skin while the needle remains protected within the housing. A luer or other connector on the catheter may then be connected to a fluid or other source in an otherwise conventional manner.