Surgical Needle Safety Device with Spring-Loaded Closing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handling of sharp and contaminated surgical needles poses a risk of puncture and contamination for medical personnel, as existing methods do not adequately protect against injuries and exposure during procedures, cleaning, and disposal.
Innovation Solution
A surgical needle safety device with a needle engagement feature and closing mechanism that selectively retains the sharpened portion of the needle, featuring a hinged design with a biasing device to hold the needle in a safe position, allowing for secure handling and easy release, and additional features like paddles and graspers for varied object handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a needle holder is used to hold the suture needle, then the needle can be held more securely during the procedure, but the risk of puncture and exposure remains high during attachment, removal, and cleanup
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is pre-loaded with the suture needle in a protected state before the surgical procedure begins. The needle is retained within the safety device's housing, with only the necessary portion exposed for surgical use. This preliminary protective action eliminates the need for dangerous manual handling during attachment and removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device acts as an intermediary between the suture needle and the surgeon's hands. Instead of holding the sharp needle directly, the surgeon manipulates the safety device housing, which contains the needle. This intermediary structure transfers the harmful sharpness property from the needle to the contained system, protecting the user while maintaining functional access.
2Ease of operation
If the suture needle is held between thumb and forefinger, then dexterity and control are improved, but the risk of puncture and exposure to medical personnel increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device housing serves as an intermediary that the surgeon grasps and manipulates with fingers, rather than grasping the sharp needle directly. The housing provides ergonomic handles and control mechanisms that maintain dexterity while eliminating direct contact with the harmful sharp needle portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device incorporates a housing structure that encloses the sharp needle while providing a manipulable exterior. This shell-like structure allows finger engagement and control while physically separating the user's skin from the hazardous sharp edge, solving both the control and safety requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the safety device retains the entire needle, then safety is maximized, but the ability to perform standard suture closure techniques is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device differentiates between different portions of the needle, providing full enclosure and protection for the sharp distal end while leaving the proximal portion accessible for suture attachment and manipulation. This localized protection approach maintains the functional qualities needed for standard suture techniques while maximizing safety where the hazard exists.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device divides the needle protection into functional segments: the sharp working end is enclosed for safety, while the attachment end remains accessible for surgical manipulation. This segmentation allows the device to simultaneously provide maximum protection where needed and maintain operational versatility where required.
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 device effectively reduces the risk of puncture and contamination by securely retaining the needle during procedures, allowing for safe handling and disposal, while enabling standard suture closure techniques without compromising safety.
Implementation Method 1
the proximal, hinged end includes an internal torsion spring configured to bias the first and second arms in an open configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical needle safety device and method of use is provided. In an embodiment, the safety device is configured for protecting a user and/or patient from injury and/or contamination while handling a surgical needle. The surgical needle safety device includes a needle engagement feature for selective engagement with a needle or other sharp object to fixedly and/or safely retain such needle or other sharp object. The surgical needle safety device comprises a closing mechanism configured for holding the device in a closed configuration with the needle or other sharp object held in a fixed, safe position. In an embodiment, the closing mechanism is spring-loaded to hold the safety device in a closed configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, a user can selectively counteract the spring biasing force to put the device into an open configuration and release the needle or other sharp object.