Safety Needle Hub With Telescopic Shield And Locking Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection devices lack effective mechanisms for safely protecting needles connected or connectable to syringes, particularly in preventing accidental needle sticks before, during, and after injection.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a needle hub, a compression spring, a locking sleeve, a shield, and a needle sheath, which work together to provide a safe and secure mechanism for needle protection. The shield is designed to be telescopically movable relative to the hub, and the locking sleeve can rotate relative to the shield, allowing for efficient needle protection without requiring the user to hold the device tightly against the skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a needle protection mechanism is added to injection devices, then safety against accidental needle sticks is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested protection system where the needle is enclosed within a needle hub, which is further protected by a shield that telescopes over the hub. The compression spring is nested within the hub structure. This multi-layer nesting provides comprehensive protection while maintaining a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield is pre-positioned in a retracted state during device assembly, automatically covering the needle before use. The compression spring is pre-loaded to provide immediate protective force. This preliminary positioning ensures protection is active before the user even engages the device.
2Ease of operation
If a telescopic shield mechanism is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is designed with telescopic movement capability, allowing it to dynamically extend and retract along the longitudinal axis. This dynamic structure enables the shield to adapt its position based on operational needs - retracted during injection for access, extended after injection for protection - without requiring complex locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression spring provides self-powered movement of the shield and locking sleeve, eliminating the need for additional motors or power sources. The spring's elastic energy automatically drives the protection mechanism during device operation.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to secure the needle, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking sleeve rotates freely during the injection process to accommodate natural device movement and patient movement without compromising the needle connection. The dynamic rotation capability maintains reliable locking while preventing discomfort or device failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking sleeve serves multiple functions: it secures the needle to the hub, allows rotational movement for comfort, and works in conjunction with the shield to provide comprehensive protection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents accidental needle sticks by automatically locking the needle in place after use, reducing user discomfort and the risk of injury, while also allowing for easy handling and storage of the device.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring, which in some embodiments is also a torsion spring
Implementation Method 2
a compression spring, which in some embodiments is also a torsion spring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3A
Figure 4A~5D
AI summary
A needle protection system, adapted to protect a tip of a hypodermic needle connected or connectable to a syringe. The system comprises a shield to shield the tip of the needle; a needle hub engaged to the hypodermic needle and having an exterior surface including at least one slot. The slot includes at least three surfaces corresponding to three operative orientations of said shield. The needle hub is connected to the shield such that the shield can move axially, but cannot rotate, relative to the needle hub. The three operative orientations include a storage operative orientation, an injection operative orientation, and a needle protection operative orientation. The system also includes a locking sleeve, at least one biasing element, a needle sheath, and at least one tab in the slot to prevent undesired movement between said surfaces.