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 contamination, and do not allow for safe retraction from a patient without fully withdrawing the needle.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a frontal attachment and connector housing that includes a rearwardly biased needle and a needle retraction mechanism, allowing for one-handed activation of needle retraction without applying force during use, featuring a compressed coil spring for biasing the needle holder and a fluid seal to prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual force is applied to initiate needle retraction in conventional devices, then needle retraction can be achieved, but the risk of accidental needle sticks and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle retraction mechanism is self-actuating through a spring-loaded system that automatically retracts the needle upon activation. The user simply presses the activation button, and the stored mechanical energy in the spring performs the retraction action without requiring manual manipulation of the needle itself, thereby eliminating accidental needle sticks during the retraction process.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded during the manufacturing process, storing mechanical energy in advance. When the activation button is pressed, this pre-stored energy is immediately released to drive the needle retraction, eliminating the need for the user to apply force during the critical retraction moment and ensuring safe, controlled retraction.
2Productivity
If the needle retraction cavity is aligned with the needle during use, then fluid can flow through the needle, but the needle cannot be retracted safely without full withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The needle retraction cavity is positioned laterally offset from the needle's longitudinal axis during the fluid delivery phase, allowing uninterrupted fluid flow through the needle. Upon activation, the connector housing slides laterally to align the retraction cavity with the needle, enabling safe retraction without requiring full needle withdrawal from the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between two configurations: during use, the needle and retraction cavity are laterally offset to maintain fluid flow; during retraction, the connector housing slides to align them, allowing the needle to be drawn into the cavity. This dynamic reconfiguration enables both fluid delivery and safe retraction functions.
3Reliability
If a retractable needle mechanism is added to medical devices, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable needle mechanism is integrated into the connector housing assembly rather than being a separate component. The spring, needle holder, and retraction cavity are combined with the connector housing, creating a unified structure that reduces the number of discrete parts while maintaining the safety function.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector housing serves multiple functions: it connects the syringe to the needle assembly, provides the retraction cavity, houses the spring mechanism, and enables lateral sliding for retraction activation. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for each function.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the needle is held in a retracted position, then contamination is prevented, but the device cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The frontal attachment assembly containing the needle and retraction mechanism is designed as a single-use component. After the needle is retracted into the cavity, the mechanical alignment required for fluid flow cannot be restored, preventing reuse. This disposable design ensures contamination prevention while accepting that the device is intended for single use only.
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
Enables safe and controlled needle retraction directly from a patient without manual force, reducing the risk of contamination and providing a secure mechanism to prevent reactivation and reuse, while maintaining a simple and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
The needle retraction assembly includes a compressed coil spring that is held in compression when the body is attached to the connector housing
Implementation Method 2
a fluid seal to prevent leakage
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device having a frontal attachment and a connector housing having at least a body part of an associated medical apparatus, the frontal attachment slidably engaging the connector housing and having a forwardly projecting, rearwardly biased needle and a needle retraction assembly, and the connector housing having a needle retraction cavity laterally offset from the needle in a first position, the needle retraction cavity being selectively movable relative to the frontal attachment following use to reposition the needle retraction cavity into alignment with the needle to permit retraction.