Enhanced Needle Shield Remover with Safety and Efficiency Features
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept presents a reusable needle shield remover with advanced features, including an improved passageway, enhanced safety features, and convenient disposal options, making the removal process safer, faster, and more efficient.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent described a needle shield remover with limitations in terms of ease of use, safety, and efficiency. The present inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing novel features that overcome the drawbacks of the existing design.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The enhanced needle shield remover features a spiral groove on the internal surface of the passageway, facilitating easy removal of the needle shield. Additionally, the remover includes a shield detection sensor that alerts the user when the shield is properly removed, ensuring enhanced safety. The design also incorporates an interchangeable passageway module for easy cleaning and replacement, and an integrated needle shield disposal compartment for safe and convenient disposal. The remover operates by inserting the needle shield into the passageway and then rotating the remover to dislodge the shield.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The inventive concept's novelty lies in the combination of the spiral groove passageway, shield detection sensor, interchangeable passageway module, and integrated disposal compartment, which collectively provide a safer, faster, and more efficient needle shield removal process. The inventive step resides in the integration of these features, which overcome the limitations of the original patent and provide a significant improvement over the prior art.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include variations in the passageway design, such as different groove patterns or shapes, or alternative materials for the passageway module. Additionally, the shield detection sensor could be replaced with other sensing technologies, such as optical or acoustic sensors.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The enhanced needle shield remover has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the context of medicament delivery devices. The target market includes pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and medical facilities, as well as patients who self-administer medications.
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Medical device design, specifically needle shield removal technologies for syringes and medicament delivery devices, requiring expertise in mechanical engineering, ergonomics, and medical device safety
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A mechanical engineer or medical device designer with 3-5 years of experience in designing medical safety devices, familiar with injection technologies, user interaction principles, and standard design optimization techniques
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable engineering improvements to the source patent's needle shield removal mechanism. The proposed enhancements like spiral groove passageways and shield detection sensors are logical extensions of the original design's core functionality. These modifications address known usability challenges in needle shield removal through standard design problem-solving approaches.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,772 |
|---|---|
| Title | Needle shield remover |
| Assignee(s) | Owen Mumford Limited |