Shieldable Needle Assembly with Biasing Safety Shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle assemblies pose a risk of accidental injury due to the potential exposure of the sharp needle cannula during handling and disposal, especially for those that do not have irreversible locking mechanisms, which can lead to contamination and the spread of diseases.
Innovation Solution
A needle assembly with a shielded needle cannula that can be locked or unlocked depending on the situation, featuring a biasing mechanism to keep the shield covering the tip and a releasable locking system that automatically locks when disconnected from an injection device and unlocks when connected, ensuring safety during use and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring loaded shield is used to cover the needle cannula, then safety against accidental injury is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The shield automatically locks when the needle assembly is disconnected from the injection device, eliminating the need for manual locking operations. The spring-loaded mechanism self-activates based on the connection state, reducing operational complexity while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield transitions between locked and unlocked states dynamically based on whether the needle assembly is connected or disconnected from the injection device. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt its safety mechanism automatically without requiring complex manual controls.
2Reliability
If irreversible locking means are used to lock the shield after injection, then safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates for multiple injections
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions from irreversible to reversible based on the operational context. When disconnected from the injection device, the shield automatically locks. When connected, the user can manually unlock it for multiple injections, combining the safety of irreversible locking with the flexibility of reversible locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism changes its state based on the connection status parameter. The spring-loaded shield automatically locks when disconnected (connection parameter = false) and can be manually unlocked when connected (connection parameter = true), allowing the system to adapt its locking behavior to the operational requirement.
3Ease of operation
If the shield is manually unlocked prior to each injection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of accidental exposure increases during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is automatically unlocked in advance when the needle assembly is connected to the injection device, eliminating the need for manual unlocking operations during handling. The spring-loaded mechanism automatically transitions to the unlocked state based on the connection status, reducing the risk of accidental exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield automatically performs the unlocking action when the needle assembly is connected to the injection device, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This self-service mechanism reduces the risk of accidental exposure while maintaining ease of operation.
4Reliability
If the needle assembly is always locked when dismounted, then safety is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to additional unlocking steps when mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The shield automatically unlocks in advance when the needle assembly is connected to the injection device, eliminating the need for manual unlocking steps during the injection process. This preliminary automatic unlocking action maintains safety when dismounted while avoiding productivity loss during mounted operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded shield automatically performs the unlocking action when connected to the injection device, eliminating the need for manual operations. This self-service mechanism maintains safety during disposal while avoiding time consumption during injection, thereby preserving productivity.
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 solution provides enhanced safety by ensuring the needle cannula is always locked when not in use, reducing the risk of accidental exposure and contamination, while allowing manual switching between locked and unlocked modes when mounted on an injection device.
Implementation Method 1
The shield is constantly urged in the distal direction by the biasing means such that the tip of the needle cannula is covered
Data Source
AI summary
A needle assembly for an injection device comprising a needle cannula which is mounted in a hub connectable to an injection device, and a biasing shield which is telescopically guided relative to the hub between a position in which the needle cannula is covered and a position in which at least the sharp end of the needle cannula is exposed, such that an injection can be performed without visual contact with the needle cannula. Further releasable locking means is provided such that the user can lock or unlock the shield to perform the telescopi-cally movement. In order to release the shield, the injection device itself can be utilized as the key for unlocking.