Vein Holder Stabilizes Skin and Compresses Vein for One-Handed Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing veins for medical procedures can be challenging, especially in older patients, due to vein movement and the risk of vein rupture from tourniquet use, which complicates accurate needle placement.
Innovation Solution
A vein holder with an upright wall and bottom flange that stabilizes the skin, allowing easy access by a needle while preventing vein movement and applying pressure to close the vein, allowing for one-handed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tourniquet is used to make veins more pronounced, then vein accessibility is improved, but the risk of vein rupture increases due to high back pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tourniquet from the procedure entirely, replacing it with a vein holder that stabilizes the vein through mechanical support rather than constriction. The vein holder includes a support surface that contacts the skin and a stabilization element that prevents vein movement without creating high back pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The vein holder acts as an intermediary device between the needle and the vein, providing stabilization and support. Rather than using a tourniquet to constrict blood flow, the vein holder uses a support surface and stabilization elements to hold the vein in place, eliminating the harmful back pressure effect
2Measurement precision
If a needle guide is used to improve needle placement accuracy, then placement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vein holder performs multiple functions in a single device: it stabilizes the vein, supports the skin, prevents vein movement, and facilitates needle placement. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate needle guides and other stabilization devices, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining placement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines vein stabilization, skin support, and needle placement facilitation into a single integrated vein holder device. The support surface, stabilization element, and opening for needle access are merged into one component that can be held in the provider's hand, simplifying the overall procedure equipment
3Stability of the object's composition
If the vein is stabilized by holding the skin tight, then vein position stability is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to requiring two hands
Solution Approach 1:
The vein holder combines skin stabilization and vein positioning functions into a single hand-held device. The support surface contacts and stabilizes the skin while the stabilization element prevents vein movement, all while the device can be gripped and held in one hand, freeing the other hand for needle manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The vein holder serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a skin stabilizer, vein positioner, and needle guide all in one device that can be operated with one hand. The ergonomic design includes a grip portion that allows secure one-handed operation while maintaining vein stability
Data Source
AI summary
The vein holder has an upright wall forming a central opening. The central opening is large enough to allow easy access by a needle. A bottom flange extends outwardly from the wall and rests against the patient's skin. It is the bottom surface of the flange 14 which holds the skin tight to prevent movement of the vein relative to the skin. In addition, pressure applied by the vein holder closes the vein at an end away from the syringe opening.