Sliding Frontal Attachment Retractable Needle Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices with retractable needles often require manual force to initiate needle retraction, which can lead to accidental needle-sticks and increased contamination risk. Additionally, these devices may not allow for needle retraction directly from a patient without first removing the needle.
Innovation Solution
A medical device featuring a frontal attachment with a rearwardly biased retractable needle and a needle retraction mechanism that can be activated with one hand. The device includes a connector housing with a needle retraction chamber and cavity that are offset from the needle's axis during use, allowing for lateral movement and alignment with the needle for retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual force is required to initiate needle retraction, then the needle retraction mechanism is simpler, but the risk of accidental needle-sticks and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle retraction mechanism uses a spring-loaded system that automatically retracts the needle after use without requiring manual force from the operator. The spring is compressed during insertion and automatically propels the needle back into the hub after the procedure is complete, making the system self-serving and eliminating the need for manual retraction actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-compressed during the needle insertion phase, storing potential energy that will be released automatically after use. This preliminary action ensures that the retraction force is already prepared and available, eliminating the need for manual force during the critical retraction phase and reducing the risk of accidental sticks.
2Reliability
If the needle retraction cavity is aligned with the needle axis during use, then fluid flow is simplified, but accidental needle-sticks increase when retracting from a patient
Solution Approach 1:
The needle retraction cavity is deliberately offset from the needle axis, creating an asymmetric configuration. During insertion, the needle passes through the offset cavity, and during retraction, the spring propels the needle laterally away from the patient's skin into the hub. This asymmetric design ensures that the retraction path does not follow the original insertion path, preventing accidental sticks while maintaining fluid flow capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The retraction mechanism introduces a lateral dimension to the needle movement. Instead of retracting linearly along the original axis, the offset cavity and spring mechanism cause the needle to move in a different spatial dimension during retraction, separating the retraction path from the insertion path and eliminating the risk of accidental skin contact.
3Extent of automation
If the connector housing slides laterally relative to the frontal attachment, then needle retraction is automated, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two main segments: the frontal attachment (containing the needle hub and spring mechanism) and the connector housing (containing the offset retraction cavity). These segments can slide laterally relative to each other, with the sliding interface providing the necessary freedom of movement for automated retraction while maintaining a relatively simple structural design through clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector housing is designed to slide laterally relative to the frontal attachment, creating a dynamic structure that enables automated needle retraction. This sliding capability allows the system to transition from a static aligned configuration during insertion to a dynamic offset configuration during retraction, achieving automation without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device is disclosed as having a body comprising an open-ended fluid flow chamber and a laterally offset needle retraction chamber. A frontal attachment that includes a forwardly projecting needle support is slidably coupled to the body. A retractable needle assembly comprising a needle holder, a retraction spring rearwardly biasing the needle holder against the forwardly projecting needle support, and a needle extending forwardly from the forwardly projecting needle support is carried by the frontal attachment, which is laterally slidable with respect to the body from a first position in which the needle is aligned and in fluid communication with the open-ended fluid flow chamber to a second position in which the needle is aligned with the needle retraction chamber to initiate retraction of the needle holder and the needle into the needle retraction chamber.