Syringe Needle Safety System with Automatic Retraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Used syringes with exposed needles pose a significant health hazard, particularly for healthcare workers who risk accidental injury during the recapping process, leading to potential transmission of diseases like hepatitis and AIDS.
Innovation Solution
A safety system featuring a housing with a V-shaped notch and cap assembly that allows easy separation and secure retraction of the needle, utilizing a manual lever or motorized mechanism for cap placement, and adhesive for surface attachment, enabling safe handling and disposal of syringes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle is exposed for injection use, then the injection function is enabled, but the risk of accidental needlestick injuries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety system performs preliminary action by automatically retracting the needle into the syringe barrel immediately after injection. The system detects injection completion and activates the retraction mechanism before the user can accidentally contact the needle, thus eliminating the harmful effect while preserving the injection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety system is self-service in that it automatically detects when injection is complete and autonomously retracts the needle without requiring user intervention. The system monitors injection parameters and self-activates the retraction mechanism, eliminating the need for manual needle recapping that exposes users to injury risk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional recapping process is used, then the needle is protected after use, but the healthcare worker is exposed to injury risk during recapping
Solution Approach 1:
The safety system eliminates the need for manual recapping by providing self-service automatic needle retraction. The system autonomously detects injection completion and retracts the needle into the syringe barrel, protecting the needle without exposing the healthcare worker to injury risk during the protection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the dangerous recapping step from the workflow by replacing it with automatic retraction. The needle protection function is separated from manual user action and integrated into the automated system, removing the source of worker injury risk while maintaining needle protection.
3Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism is used to secure the needle, then the safety reliability increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is self-service in that it automatically engages and secures the retracted needle position without requiring separate locking actions or complex manual operations. The system self-locks upon retraction completion, maintaining high reliability while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is merged with the retraction mechanism itself. The same actuator that performs retraction also engages the lock, combining two functions into one integrated system. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the reliability of needle securation.
Data Source
AI summary
A housing or enclosure is provided with a notch or an opening to receive the tip of a syringe with a needle and cap assembly. A user inserts the syringe into the notch or opening and guides the needle and cap assembly into an assembly that allows easy separation of the needle and cap. After separation, the user can inject the needle into a patient as usual, and thereafter place the exposed needle back into the notch or opening. A cap placement assembly uses a manual lever or a motor to secure the cap in place the needle and release the syringe/needle if needed.