Reusable Syringe With Retractable Shielding Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental syringe designs fail to adequately prevent needle stick injuries during and after procedures, particularly due to the need for frequent needle exchanges and lack of effective safety features in reusable syringes, which poses a risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission to healthcare workers.
Innovation Solution
A reusable syringe assembly with a protective shielding frame that slides between extended and retracted positions to cover the needle tip, allowing for manual access and visibility of the carpule for aspirant inspection, enabling safe needle exchange and disposal, and made from sterilizable materials for repeated use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective sheath is manually replaced after needle use, then the needle can be disposed of safely, but the risk of accidental needle stick injuries increases during the resheathing process
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manually resheathing the needle after use, the invention inverts the sequence by automatically retracting the needle into the syringe body after injection. This eliminates the dangerous resheathing step entirely, as the needle remains enclosed within the syringe housing until proper disposal in a sharps container.
Solution Approach 2:
The syringe is designed with self-retracting needle mechanisms that automatically return the needle to a safe enclosed position after use without requiring manual intervention. This self-service feature eliminates the need for healthcare workers to handle exposed needles during disposal preparation.
2Productivity
If conventional syringes with exposed needles are used for multiple injections, then treatment efficiency is maintained, but the risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe incorporates dynamic safety features including movable shields and retractable needle mechanisms that automatically adjust between extended (safe for injection) and retracted (safe for disposal) positions. This dynamic design maintains treatment efficiency while eliminating exposure risks during needle transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediary protective structures such as retractable shields and safety housings that mediate between the needle and the external environment. These intermediaries protect both the patient during injection and the healthcare worker during disposal by controlling needle exposure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If self-retracting needles are used in dental applications, then needle stick injuries are reduced, but the ability to perform multiple injections with the same syringe is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe is segmented into reusable and disposable components. The reusable syringe body contains the safety mechanisms and can be sterilized for multiple uses, while the needles and carpules are disposable. This segmentation allows the syringe to maintain multiple injection capability through sterilization while incorporating safety features that prevent needle stick injuries.
Solution Approach 2:
The syringe design incorporates universal safety features that work across multiple injection cycles. The retractable needle mechanism and protective shields are designed to function repeatedly after sterilization, allowing the same syringe to safely perform multiple injections on different patients or procedures.
4Loss of substance
If reusable syringes are sterilized for repeated use, then environmental impact is reduced, but the risk of improper sterilization and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adopts a hybrid approach where only the components that contact blood (needles and carpules) are disposable, while the syringe body is reusable. This eliminates the environmental impact of disposing entire syringes while ensuring that all blood-contacting components are replaced and properly disposed of, maintaining sterilization reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design separates disposable components (needles, carpules) from reusable components (syringe body). After use, the disposable components are discarded while the syringe body is recovered, sterilized, and prepared for reuse. This selective discarding and recovering process reduces waste while maintaining infection control standards.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention involves a sterilizable syringe allows for reduction in needlestick injuries using conventional sterile needles. The syringe allows for direct access to and the safe removal and disposal of needles. The device consists of a sterilizable, reusable hypodermic syringe to which a disposable needle is attached, and employs carpules containing injectable medication, viewable and either manually or automatically aspirating. Some embodiments have a protective sliding mechanism consisting of an open frame bearing one or more protective collars, one at the furthermost end of the frame and an optional second one at a more proximal position. The protective mechanism may be extended to protect an exposed needle tip and retracted during an injection. With the protective mechanism extended, the needle mounting hub is exposed to allow for its exchange or removal and safe disposal. The protective mechanism is engaged until immediately prior to the delivery of medication, disengaged on delivery, and engaged after delivery.