Safety Needle Assembly Sliding Grip Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle assemblies for percutaneous fluid infusion/withdrawal expose sharp tips after use, posing a risk of needlestick injuries and potential bloodborne disease transmission due to the lack of effective protection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A safety needle assembly with a slidable grip mechanism that moves the needle holder and wing assembly to cover the sharp distal tip, ensuring the tip is not exposed when not in use, featuring a wing assembly and release latch system to induce sliding movement of the needle holder into the internal passageway, providing a protective position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle tip is exposed for use, then the needle can be inserted into the vasculature for fluid infusion/withdrawal, but the risk of needlestick injuries and bloodborne disease transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle assembly incorporates a dynamic shielding mechanism where the shield can move between extended and retracted positions. When retracted, the needle tip is exposed for insertion; when extended, the needle tip is covered for safety. This dynamic structure allows the system to adapt its state based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between needing the needle exposed for use and covered for safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: the needle holder containing the needle, the shield that covers the needle tip, and the biasing mechanism. This segmentation allows independent movement and function of each component, enabling the shield to protect the needle tip while the needle remains functional for insertion when needed.
2Reliability
If a retractable needle mechanism is implemented, then the needle tip can be covered after use, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding mechanism incorporates a biasing element (spring) that automatically returns the shield to its extended protective position after the needle is inserted and used. The system is self-actuating through the release mechanism that triggers the biasing element, eliminating the need for manual operation or complex motorized systems to achieve needle tip protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the release mechanism and the shield, providing the force necessary to extend the shield while the release mechanism provides the trigger action. This intermediary element simplifies the overall control system by separating the triggering function from the actuating function.
3Reliability
If the grip is made slidable along the body, then the needle holder can be moved to cover the needle tip, but the ease of operation decreases due to additional manual manipulation required
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable grip is connected to the release mechanism such that when the user slides the grip, it automatically triggers the release of the biasing element, which in turn extends the shield to cover the needle tip. The system performs the protective action automatically in response to a simple user input, maintaining ease of operation while achieving reliable needle tip shielding.
Data Source
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AI summary
The safety needle assembly includes a body and a wing assembly secured to the body. A grip is slidable along the exterior of the body, and a needle holder is slidable through an interior passageway in the body. The grip slides independently of the wing assembly, which is not slidable with respect to the body. The grip and the needle holder are secured to one another, so that sliding movement of the grip induces sliding movement of the needle holder. The grip and the needle holder are slidable between a distal position, in which a sharp distal tip of a needle held in the needle holder is exposed, and a proximal position, in which the sharp distal tip is not exposed.