Syringe Barrel Adapter for Universal Needle Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retractable syringe designs often require specific barrel shapes or configurations, making them incompatible with glass syringe barrels, which are in short supply and may not have the desired shape for mounting a retractable needle assembly, leading to issues with syringe reuse and needlestick injuries.
Innovation Solution
An adapter system that allows a needle assembly to be mounted on any straight-barrel or cylindrical syringe barrel, including glass, with a simplified design featuring a needle aperture and a barrel-engaging portion, along with a plunger system that includes a biasing member for needle retraction and dual locking mechanisms to prevent reuse and needle exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retractable needle assembly is designed with a specific barrel shape or configuration, then the needle assembly can be reliably mounted to that syringe barrel, but the adapter cannot be readily mounted to syringe barrels having different shapes or configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter body is designed with a universal barrel-engaging portion that can engage with multiple types of syringe barrels including glass and plastic barrels with different configurations. The adapter serves multiple functions: mounting the needle assembly, engaging with various barrel types, and working with different plunger systems, making it a multi-functional component that resolves the contradiction between reliable mounting and broad compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter acts as an intermediary component between the syringe barrel and the needle assembly. Rather than designing the needle assembly to fit specific barrel types directly, the adapter serves as a mediator that interfaces with various barrel shapes and configurations, enabling the needle assembly to be mounted reliably across different barrel types without requiring custom designs for each barrel configuration
2Quantity of substance
If glass syringe barrels are used, then the syringes are available, but they generally do not have the desired shape or configuration for mounting a retractable needle assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct components: the syringe barrel (which can be any available type including glass), the adapter (which provides the mounting interface), and the needle assembly. This segmentation allows the barrel to be selected based on availability while the adapter provides the necessary mounting functionality, resolving the contradiction between using available glass barrels and achieving proper mounting compatibility
3Reliability
If a complicated retractable needle assembly is designed, then syringe reuse and needlestick injuries can be prevented, but the assembly cannot be readily mounted to syringe barrels with different shapes or configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable needle system is segmented into the needle assembly and the adapter, with the adapter handling the complexity of engagement with various barrel types while the needle assembly itself remains relatively simple. The biasing member and locking mechanism are integrated into the adapter rather than the needle assembly, separating the safety functions from the mounting complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter serves as an intermediary that contains the complexity of the retractable mechanism, including the biasing member and locking system. This allows the needle assembly to remain simple while the adapter handles all the safety functions and compatibility requirements, resolving the contradiction between safety reliability and assembly simplicity
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
Facilitates safe and efficient delivery of fluid contents while preventing syringe reuse and needlestick injuries by enabling universal compatibility with syringe barrels and ensuring automatic needle retraction with robust locking systems, reducing manufacturing costs and minimizing fluid wastage.
Implementation Method 1
the plunger further comprises a biasing member. Suitably, retraction of said retractable needle is facilitated by said biasing member
Implementation Method 2
the needle seal is compressible. In use the needle seal is substantially immobile
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter mountable to a retractable syringe barrel comprises a body that includes a needle portion and a barrel-engaging portion and a needle aperture. The adapter facilitates mounting a needle assembly to the barrel. The needle assembly comprises a needle body and cannula and an immobile, compressible needle seal, wherein the needle body and the needle seal are releasably engaged. The needle seal is engageable with a needle portion of the adapter. The needle body comprises one or more fluid reclaim channels that facilitate efficient delivery of the fluid contents of the retractable syringe. The retractable syringe also comprises dual locking systems to impede or prevent re-use.