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US 11,400,236 B2Granted
Heat-curling polymeric needle for safe disposal
AssigneeSyracuse University
InventorsPatrick T. Mather, Pine Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A needle having shaft that forms a tip and a portion proximate to the tip that is formed from a shape memory polymer. The shaft of the needle may be programmed to curl from a straight configuration to a curved configuration upon triggering by heat, thereby moving the sharp tip and providing a non-stick needle for safe and easy disposal.
Claims9
A needle, comprising:
- a hollow shaft including a tip and a portion proximate to said tip that is formed from a shape memory polymer having a glass transition temperature above 100 degrees Celsius;
- wherein said portion will transition from a temporary configuration that is straight to a permanent configuration that has a curve when said portion is heated to at least said glass transition temperature;
- wherein said portion comprises a film formed from a plurality of fibers;
- and
- wherein said curve of said permanent configuration is sufficient to bend said hollow shaft about 180 degrees when said portion is heated to a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius.
2 more elements
A method of using a needle, comprising the steps of:
- providing a needle having a hollow shaft including a tip and a portion proximate to said tip that is formed from a shape memory polymer having a glass transition temperature above 100 degrees Celsius, wherein said portion will transition from a temporary configuration that is straight to a permanent configuration that has a curve when said portion is heated to at least said glass transition temperature, wherein said portion comprises a film formed from a plurality of fibers, and wherein said curve of said permanent configuration is sufficient to bend said hollow shaft about 180 degrees when said portion is heated to a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius;
- using said needle to inject a subject;
- heating said needle to a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius until said portion transitions from said temporary configuration to said permanent configuration.
A method of manufacturing a needle, comprising the steps of:
- extruding a needle having a hollow shaft including a tip and a portion proximate to said tip that is formed from a shape memory polymer having a glass transition temperature above 100 degrees Celsius, wherein said portion will transition from a temporary configuration that is straight to a permanent configuration that has a curve when said portion is heated to at least said glass transition temperature, wherein said portion comprises a film formed from a plurality of fibers, and wherein said curve of said permanent configuration is sufficient to bend said hollow shaft about 180 degrees when said portion is heated to a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius;
- setting said permanent configuration by heating said needle above a temporary temperature;
- programming said temporary configuration by heating said needle under a load to a second temperature that is lower than said temporary temperature;
- and
- freeze fracturing said shaft to form a sharp tip.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.