Telescopic Needle Shielding for One-Handed Catheter Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle shielding devices for catheters are cumbersome, require two hands to operate, and provide inadequate protection against blood or fluid contamination, posing a health risk to medical personnel.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic needle shielding device with interlocking parts that allows for one-handed operation, featuring a grip part, middle part, and inner part that slide relative to each other, ensuring complete encapsulation of the needle after use, with additional features like edge blinkers and a push tab for enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional needle shielding device is used, then the needle tip is protected, but the device is cumbersome and requires two hands to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The needle shielding device is divided into three telescopic segments (first part, second part, third part) that can slide relative to each other. This segmentation allows the device to be operated with one hand while maintaining structural functionality, as each segment can move independently to achieve shielding without requiring complex two-handed manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The three parts of the needle shielding device are nested within each other in a telescopic arrangement, with the first part containing the second part, and the second part containing the third part. This nesting structure enables compact one-handed operation while providing complete needle coverage when extended
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a spring clip protector is used, then the needle tip is shielded, but it provides poor protection against blood or body fluid drops
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a flexible membrane forming a bottom closure in the third part, which acts as a barrier to prevent blood or body fluid drops from passing through. This flexible film provides effective containment of harmful fluids while maintaining the overall simplicity of the telescopic structure
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding device is segmented into three parts with the third part serving as a base that includes the flexible membrane barrier. This segmentation allows the fluid-blocking function to be integrated into the structure without requiring a completely separate complex containment system
3Ease of operation
If a needle protector assembly is used, then the needle shaft is covered, but it requires manual sliding operation that is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic needle shielding device is designed to be self-operating through the withdrawal motion itself. As the needle is withdrawn from the catheter, the relative movement between the needle and catheter automatically triggers the telescopic parts to extend and cover the needle, eliminating the need for separate manual sliding operations
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs dynamic telescopic parts that can change their configuration from retracted to extended states. The parts are designed to move relative to each other in response to the needle withdrawal motion, providing automatic shielding without requiring additional manual intervention or complex locking mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a needle shielding device for a catheter instrument extending along a longitudinal axis A, comprising an inner part comprising an inner part track extending along said axis A, a middle part comprising a middle part track extending along the axis A, and an internal middle part engagement, an outer grip part, comprising a needle hub, holding a needle extending along the axis A, and grip part internal engagement. The grip part internal engagement is configured to slidingly engage the middle part track, and the middle part engagement is configured to slidingly engage the inner part track such that the inner part, the middle part and the grip part are telescopingly slidable in relation to one another.