Rounded Tip Medical Needle for Epidural Nerve Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical needles cause severe bleeding, neuropathy, and tissue lacerations due to their sharp cutting edges, particularly during procedures like epidural anesthesia, where they can damage nerves and blood vessels, leading to complications such as dural puncture headache and physical paralysis.

Innovation Solution

A medical needle with a tip portion featuring first and second inclined regions and tapered portions, designed to minimize damage by progressively decreasing cross-sectional area and using rounded, flat surfaces that allow nerves and vessels to retract, reducing the risk of penetration and laceration, and incorporating a tubular bore for precise injection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a needle with sharp cutting edges and tissue-piercing point is used, then the needle can effectively pierce tissue, but it causes severe bleeding, neuropathy, and tissue lacerations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue piercing capabilityVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional sharp cutting edge design by using a rounded tip with progressive inclination angles. Instead of cutting through tissue with a sharp edge, the rounded tip progressively deforms and separates tissue fibers, allowing the needle to penetrate while minimizing lacerations and nerve damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the needle tip by introducing two inclined regions with specific angle ranges (first inclination angle α: 10°-30°, second inclination angle β: 15°-45°) and a rounded tip radius (R: 0.1-1.0mm). These parameter modifications transform the needle from a cutting tool to a progressive deformation tool that reduces tissue trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a needle with sharp cutting edges is used for epidural anesthesia, then the needle can reach the epidural space, but it risks dural and arachnoidal laceration and CSF leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to epidural spaceVSAvoidrisk of dural puncture

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the inversion principle by replacing the sharp cutting tip with a rounded tip design. This prevents the needle from piercing the dura mater and arachnoid membrane, thereby eliminating the risk of CSF leakage and dural puncture headache while still enabling access to the epidural space through progressive tissue separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The rounded tip acts as a cushioning element that distributes force over a larger area and prevents sudden penetration of the dura mater. The progressive inclination angles provide a gradual transition that cushions the needle's approach to the epidural space, reducing the risk of accidental dural puncture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If a needle with sharp cutting edges is used to extract cerebrospinal fluid, then the needle can penetrate the dura mater, but it may damage the spinal cord and nerve roots

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepenetration capabilityVSAvoidnerve damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional sharp tip design to create a rounded tip that progressively deforms tissue rather than cutting it. This allows the needle to navigate through tissue layers and reach the epidural space without lacerating nerves or the spinal cord, thereby eliminating neuropathy and physical paralysis risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Productivity

If a needle with sharp cutting edges is used, then the needle can enter the body quickly, but it leaves many lacerations at the tissues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion speedVSAvoidtissue lacerations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the tip geometry parameters (rounded radius R: 0.1-1.0mm, inclination angles α and β) to enable the needle to penetrate tissue through progressive deformation rather than cutting. This maintains insertion efficiency while significantly reducing tissue lacerations, as the rounded tip separates tissue fibers rather than severing them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8257392B2Intimacy medical needle designed for nerve stimulation through soft tissue and microadhesiolysis of adhered soft tissue and medical instrument using the same

Publication Date: 2012.09.04 AHN KANG

AI summary

A medical needle comprises a main body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a tip portion formed at the distal end of the body. The tip portion has a first inclined region, the cross-sectional area of which decreases toward the distal end and has a pair of surfaces inclined with an angle of 15° to 20°. The tip portion has a second inclined region extending from the first inclined region, the cross-sectional area of which decreases toward the distal end and has a pair of surfaces inclined with an angle of 30° to 45°. A tip is formed at the point of juncture of the pair of surfaces of the second inclined region. Tapered portions are formed on both sides of the first inclined region. Each tapered portion is inclined at an angle of 5° to 15°. Curved portions are formed at the points of juncture of the tip and the tapered portions.