Syringe Safety Device With Independent Contact Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety devices for syringes often cause discomfort due to rotation of the safety sleeve during use, and manufacturing challenges arise from tolerance fluctuations in glass syringes, limiting their application and security against needle exposure.

Innovation Solution

A safety device with a contact element that can rotate independently of the sleeve element, coupled with a collar element that securely attaches to the syringe body, preventing rotation transmission to the skin and accommodating various syringe geometries through a guide projection and link system, and a spring mechanism for automatic needle retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the guide pin is firmly seated to the syringe body, then the safety sleeve experiences rotation about the longitudinal axis due to the cam track, but this rotation causes discomfort to the patient by twisting the skin around the puncture site

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachment of safety deviceVSAvoidpatient comfort during use
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The contact element is separated from the sleeve element, allowing the sleeve to rotate for needle deployment while the contact element remains stationary relative to the patient's skin. This segmentation decouples the rotational movement from the skin contact surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contact element acts as an intermediary between the rotating sleeve element and the patient's skin. It absorbs the rotational movement through independent rotation capability, preventing the rotation from being transmitted to the skin.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a collar element with rotatable pin is used to prevent sleeve rotation, then rotation is prevented, but glass syringes have considerable tolerance fluctuations in the front geometry making this difficult to implement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of sleeve rotationVSAvoidtolerance fluctuations in syringe geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The contact element is designed to rotate independently on the sleeve element through a bearing connection. This dynamic capability allows the contact element to accommodate the rotational movement of the sleeve without requiring precise geometric tolerances in the collar element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing connection between the contact element and sleeve element changes the friction parameter, allowing easy rotation of the contact element relative to the sleeve. This eliminates the need for tight tolerance control in the collar element design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the contact element is firmly attached to the sleeve element, then the structure is simpler, but the rotation of the sleeve element transmits to the contact element and twists the patient's skin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidpatient comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The contact element and sleeve element are segmented as separate rotatable components. The bearing connection enables independent rotation of the contact element, preventing skin twisting while maintaining relatively simple structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing connection enables the contact element to self-adjust its orientation independently of the sleeve element's rotation. This self-service mechanism automatically prevents skin twisting without requiring complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution ensures comfortable use by preventing sleeve rotation from being transmitted to the skin and provides a secure, adaptable design for various syringe geometries, effectively protecting against puncture injuries and ensuring reliable needle protection.

Implementation Method 1

The safety device (1) comprises a spring element (18) which is operatively connected to the syringe body (3) and which counteracts the movement of the syringe body (3) relative to the sleeve element (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The term 'independently rotatable' is to be understood here as meaning that the static friction between the sleeve element and the contact element is smaller than static friction between the patient's skin and the contact element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3313482B1Multi-part safety device for a syringe
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 GERRESHEIMER REGENSBURGH GMBH
  • EP3313482B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3313482B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3313482B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a safety device for a syringe for avoiding stab wounds, said syringe having a syringe body and a piercing means arranged on the distal end of the syringe body. The safety device comprises a sleeve element (6) that extends along an axial direction (X) and encloses at least partly the piercing means and the syringe body, said sleeve element being rotatably mounted on a distal end region of the syringe body. The safety device is characterized by comprising a contact element (7) which contacts the skin of a patient when the syringe is used, said contact element being arranged on the distal end of the sleeve element and being rotatable independent of the sleeve element.